Blind Tiger Inns, a North West pub operator, celebrated the opening of its 20th establishment at the weekend—The Grey Man in Daisy Hill, Greater Manchester. This launch comes after a joint refurbishment project with Star Pubs, totaling £150,000.
The Grey Man marks Blind Tiger Inns' 19th leasehold with Star Pubs. The £150,000 investment has transformed the previously dated pub into a premium local venue, focusing on sports and entertainment.
Inside, the pub has been revamped with an open layout, an expanded bar, and a newly installed stage. The updated, contemporary design features an exposed brick wall, graffiti by renowned North West artist Jano, and eight HD TV screens.
Outside, the pub has undergone a complete transformation, creating seating for over 100 guests. The front now features a new patio area with seating and a picket fence, while the beer garden boasts four new timber booths, each seating six, along with A-frame tables, benches, children's play equipment, and astroturf.
The Blind Tiger Inns estate comprises community-focused, wet-led locals and town or city centre venues, all located within an hour and a half of the company's head office in Chorley.
Chris Tulloch, managing director, said: “We typically look for pubs that require investment to bring them back to life. The Grey Man is in a superb location, with plentiful chimney pots in the immediate vicinity. It is in a great community, and we could see it had huge potential.
“We have funding and, having just expanded our head office team, are well positioned to add a further six pubs to our existing estate. We have typically grown by two pubs a year since we began in 2017. However, we’re not driven by reaching a target number of pubs. Our focus is on maintaining our core business, finding the right venues and a running a fun, sustainable business.
“We have enjoyed a strong few years since the pandemic. The market is clearly tough, not least with the utilities and labour costs seeming to be a constantly increasing factor. However, overall the market is robust if you invest in your pubs and your people and strive to create great experiences for your customers.
“The past few years have seen many traditional pub companies fall in love with the model we have successfully operated for years, opting for percentage based / operator agreements. As a result, the leased and tenanted options are reduced. However, this pushes us to explore different opportunities which is a lot of fun.
“As for the future, I would like to see Business Rate reform initiated by the new Labour Government sooner than later. As this won’t be a quick fix, we will need an interim plan to level the playing field between bricks and mortar businesses and online retail.”
