UCL ADDS WARWICKSHIRE SITE TO ESTATE WITH PLANNED £850,000 INVESTMENT AS PART OF £10 MILLION ROLL -OUT CAMPAIGN

Please see below details of the recent addition to UCL's estate. Ross Sanders is available for interview by emailing; margaret@fmguk.com Images available on request.

UCL ADDS WARWICKSHIRE SITE TO ESTATE WITH PLANNED £850,000 INVESTMENT AS PART OF £10 MILLION ROLL -OUT CAMPAIGN Urban & Country Leisure Ltd (UCL) the innovative pub management operator run by entrepenuer Ross Sanders, today confirmed that it has acquired a new pub to its estate, bringing its portfolio to fourteen pub operations. Bucking the current economic downturn, UCL plans to invest £850,000 in refurbishing the MOTHER HUFF CAP INN near Alcester in Warwickshire. Earlier this month, UCL confirmed that it will be rolling out its successful “Pub Blueprint” with a further fifteen new openings over the next two years with a £10 million investment . Funding for the expansion plan will come from three private investors including Bridgehouse Capital, the boutique investment company run by highly respected Birmingham born and now global property, investment and telecoms entrepreneur Andy Ruhan. Christie & Co sold the former Punch freehold to a private investor for an undisclosed sum, though offers in the region of £300,000 were sought. The new owner then granted a lease to Urban & Country Leisure. Located in the village of Great Alne, the Mother Huff Cap, which dates back to the 18th century, comprises a 40-cover main bar, a 20-cover snug, games room, 80-capacity function room, and a three-bedroom owner’s accommodation. UCL will start work in February and rename the pub THE GREEDY PIG marking this its fourth new opening in a period of four months. The Greedy Pig follows the successful opening of three new sites, the Greedy Goose in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, the Coach & Horses in Beedon, near Newbury, Berkshire and the Old Volunteer at Caythorpe, near Nottingham. UCL’s rapid and phenomenal success in just under twelve months, bucks the current economic trend and downturn in the pub and hospitality sector, which is currently haemorrhaging a staggering fifty two pub closures each week across the UK due to turbulent market and trading conditions, with dire profits warnings from many of the major Brewers and pub operators. Managing Director Ross Sanders, the principal architect behind the UCL success story, is now finding his company’s services are rapidly in demand from the major brewers, pub operators and landlords who are finding trading conditions amongst some of the worst on record. Following the implementation of Sander’s blueprint plan, UCL’s pub estate has seen a dramatic surge in consumer confidence across each of its pubs with food sales up 65% and drink sales up 45%. As a result Sanders has already been approached by two major brewers to roll out his UCL blueprint into parts of their estate on a zero premium, with UCL receiving management fees and profits on their blueprint roll out. Sanders attributes the success of his UCL blueprint down to identifying customer trends and needs, careful choice of location, quality interior design schemes along with exceptional food and drink offerings and a realistic pricing policy that aims for repeat quality and volume business across the estate. Ross Sanders, Managing Director of UCL commented “ The Greedy Pig will be redeveloped in line with UCL’s “Pub Blueprint”, it’s all about the personal touch, tailoring each pub to directly meet the wants and needs of the customer. Each of the UCL managed pubs are synonymous with quality food and drink offerings, excellent service and stylish surroundings, it’s about adding passion and personality into the pub business. Location is a critical factor, along with the right interior schemes, creating a home from home experience.” A recent addition to the UCL estate, The Greyhound in Finchampstead Is already trading at £150,000 net per month with turnover increasing month on month. The pubs interior was overhauled and re designed to incorporate an open kitchen feature, an Oyster bar and chicken rotisserie to create a home from home experience along with fixed price point wines. Sanders continued; “We believe in providing the highest quality food offering that you would expect from an expensive gastro pub, but at affordable pub prices that appeals to the consumer’s pocket. In the current economic climate, repeat business and volume increases are critical and this is only achievable by offering both high quality and value for money food and drink. The same concept applies for drink offerings, why offer a customer one standard bottle of house wine when you can offer them a wide range of wines to choose from at a reasonable fixed price point.” Further expansion plans for the UCL estate will be announced in due course ENDS For further information on Urban & Country Leisure Gerard Franklin or Margaret Murray @ FREQUENCY MEDIA T: 0121 224 7452 - gerard@fmguk.com <mailto:gerard@fmguk.com> T: 0121 224 7453 - margaret@fmguk.co <mailto:margaret@fmguk.com