S&N Retail to expand Sanderson pub chain

Scottish & Newcastle Retail is expanding its WJ&J Sanderson pub chain by 100 sites over the next two years.

This will boost the Sanderson chain, which launched in May, to 150 pubs by 2000. S&N plans to spend 21m refurbishing the sites, and will create 750 jobs nationwide.

David Lee, S&N Retail community brands controller, says: “We need to keep a balanced portfolio to make sure we are not over-exposed in any one area. This chain represents a return to traditional values that we have not focused on in recent years.”

The new Sanderson pubs will be based in suburban locations rather than city centres. They will have family areas, and run prize draws, and quizzes. Every pub will sponsor a local charity, as part of S&N’s community commitment.

S&N Retail has two other large brands in its pub portfolio: The Rat & Parrot, a city centre chain for young people with 45 outlets; and John Barras & Co, another community concept.

The company plans to turn 65 per cent of its 1,900 managed pubs into branded chains by April 2001.