Cozy Pubs expands hunt for new sites beyond Essex

The company, which now operates three pubs, has experienced like-for-like sales growth of 9 per cent so far this year alongside total company growth of 47 per cent compared with 2011.

Attributing the growth to the innovative and different dining options the firm offers its customers, the directors announced they were now looking in a number of locations in the region for new venues.

Potential sites​

Paul Cutsforth, former Orchid Pub Company operations director and co-founder of Cozy, said the pubco was in negotiations over its fourth site and looking at ways to meet its ten openings by 2015 target which it revealed earlier this year.​

"We are actively looking for pubs and hotels throughout the South east of England and are keen to talk to any operators with potential sites we can take on and successfully develop.

"We’re open-minded about location and size. Anyone with any sites in mind is welcome to contact us," he added

Different dining​

The group focuses on food-led sites and pubs with rooms; Cutsforth put the recent strong trading performance down to the quality and innovation of its food offer.

"Although the economic environment has been more challenging than ever this year, we have managed to grow our like-for-like sales by maintaining our philosophy of sourcing fresh, seasonal and locally sourced food at pub prices and delivering warm, friendly hospitality," he said.

"On top of that," he continued, "each of our three pubs lays on weekly and monthly events that really boost sales.

"Things that are a bit different and capture our guests’ imagination like party nights featuring the internationally-acclaimed electronic violinist Enrique Navarro, casino nights and Dining in the Dark, where guests are blind-folded as they eat to enhance the culinary experience.

"It’s all about encouraging people to come out on nights when they would normally stay at home. We are seeing a huge demand for these events and have already had a big response to our Christmas 2012 campaign."

Recent acquisition​

The company, which was founded by Cutsforth, Leanne Langman and Timothy Doyle in 2010, continued its Essex expansion earlier this year with the acquisition of the Grade II-listed coaching inn The Saracens Head Hotel in Great Dunmow in May.​

The former Merchant Inns site is, according to the firm, now operating with weekly sales topping £30k. As well as a pub it contains 30 bedrooms and a gym and spa which are due to open at the end of the month.