Domecq seeks pub brands boss

Allied Domecq is searching for a marketing and development director for its 2,000 pubs and bars after axing its Leisure division and creating a new unit to handle outlets which sell mainly food.

The group will launch “Allied Domecq Restaurants and Bars” on August 24. The division comprises 560 food-oriented pubs and will be headed by Martyn Grealey, previously marketing director of Allied Domecq Leisure. He has overseen the marketing of concepts such as Firkin real ale houses, Big Steak Pubs and children’s Wacky Warehouses.

Grealey joins the Allied Domecq Retailing board. Big Steak Pubs marketing executive Peter Farrett becomes marketing director of the new operation. The 1,470 other managed houses will come within the enlarged Allied Domecq Inns, under managing director John McKeown.

The new director of marketing and development will work across the two businesses to develop new pub concepts and will report to Allied Domecq Retailing chief executive Stephen Alexander.

A spokesman for the company says: “It is an appropriate time to concentrate on those areas where growth comes from, and the pub restaurant market is buoyant.” But one analyst says the reorganisation is a response to the departure of Martin Grant, Allied Domecq Leisure’s managing director, who left in May to join Sunderland pub-owner and brewer Vaux.