Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Ex-pats Lured Home by Flexible Pub Leases

Ex-licensees who left to work abroad are returning to take on UK pubs, according to three tenanted operators, reports the Morning Advertiser;

The UK’s improving economy and more flexible leases have been cited as reasons.Oliver and Samantha Knott have returned from Malaysia to take on a three-year Hall & Woodhouse tenancy at the Scarlett Arms, Walliswood, Surrey.

Knott said signs of a recovery from the UK recession meant the time to return was right. “We always wanted to run a food-based business and considered doing it in Malaysia, but the competition is huge. Also we wanted to get the kids into school in England.”

Knott said all the pubcos and brewers he had contacted were offering incentives. Matt Kearsey, head of Hall & Woodhouse’s tenanted division, Badger Pubs, said a couple returning from Spain had signed up on a pub in Billingshurst, West Sussex. “We’ve had about six applications from abroad in the past six months, and appointed two.”

Former host John Jeram-Silvey returned from Spain after his printing company in the Canary Islands closed.“Tourism fell 30% and, since there’s no support structure in Spain for British citizens, I came back.”

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