Ribble Valley Inns moves into Cheshire with fifth pub
The pub, which will mark the company's first step into Cheshire, is also its first acquisition since receiving investment from Richard and Lynda Matthewman in 2012 and is part of plans to add another eight food-led pubs to the estate.
Former SSP UK and Ireland director Wayne Chapman, who was appointed chief executive of Ribble Valley Inns last March, said the pub, which dates back to 1629, would now be closed for an 'extensive refurbishment' before re-opening in June.
The Nag's Head's refurbishment will follow renovations of two existing Ribble Valley Inns - The Three Fishes and The Clog and Billycock last year.
“The refurbishment and refinement process of our existing properties, The Three Fishes and The Clog and Billycock have been extremely successfully encouraging this growth into Cheshire," said Chapman. "Cheshire already has some fantastic dining pubs and we’re excited to be competing in such a buoyant market and finding great new Cheshire suppliers to work with.”
The company, which also owns The Highwayman and The Bull at Broughton, is also in advanced negotiations on a second site in Cheshire.
"Expanding into Cheshire is part of our growth strategy and enabling more customers in different geographic areas to experience the Ribble Valley proposition," said Chapman.
Ribble Valley Inns was formed in 2004 by Northcote hotel founders Craig Bancroft and chef Nigel Haworth as a pub company with an emphasis on serving seasonal food sourced from local suppliers.
