The overhaul, which will see 20 ‘major refurbishments’ take place in the North East, is part of a record national investment of up to £30m that the company is making in its estate this year.
The aim of the refurbishments is to improve the food capability across Star Pubs & Bars businesses, ensuring that the company’s ambition that 50 per cent of sales will come from food by 2020.
The latest on-site development is The Red Kite at Blaydon-on-Tyne with operator Daryl Frankland of the Leamside Ale Company. This refurbishment will create a new kitchen as well as three new dining areas with a total of 100-covers.
Frankland hopes that the refurbishment will allow The Red Kite to deliver restaurant quality food at affordable prices.
“As at our other pubs, all the meals will be made using fresh, locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. And, with the exception of the bread and ice cream, everything, from the chips to the sauces, will be made from scratch on the premises,” he said.
“With so much preparation involved we need pubs with larger than average kitchens and a minimum of 70 covers to recoup our kitchen overheads and The Red Kite fits the bill perfectly.”
Chris Jowsey, trading director of Star Pubs & Bars, said: “We have a proven track record of establishing strong food offers and driving up wet sales at the same time where we have invested in the North East this year and have further wet led pubs in strong locations that offer the same opportunity for growth.
“We are working with some extremely talented, established operators in the region and hope to build on these partnerships to unlock the potential the sites provide,” he said.