Admiral Taverns has invested almost £350,000 across two local pubs in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The King’s Way, run by brand new licensees, Pete and Hayley Gidman, has received a £135,000 renovation, whilst the Pool Dole, run by well-known husband and wife duo Victoria and Lee Mavin, who also own the Bellringer in Kettering Drive, has received a £212,000 refurbishment.
The King’s Way, situated on Kingsway Road, reopened on 24th February, whilst the Pool Dole, situated on Fenpark Road, reopened on the 7th April.
Investing in its pubs through capex is a core part of Admiral’s strategy as it seeks to nurture community pubs with long-term sustainable futures. Capex investment gives licensees the necessary infrastructure to ensure their pubs can thrive within their communities and offer customers an active social hub. As well as capex investment, Admiral is always looking for ways to further support its licensees. Last year, Admiral invested £1 million into energy-saving initiatives across 450 of its pubs to help combat rising energy costs.
Jodie Leigh, Business Development Manager at Admiral Taverns, commented: “I am thrilled with the investment projects that have taken place in Stoke-on-Trent – the results look amazing and will ensure both pubs sit at the heart of the community. We’re continually investing into our pubs across the UK and strongly believe in the importance of offering local communities the resources they need to bring people together.”
“Pete, Hayley, Victoria and Lee are all dedicated licensees who are passionate about their pubs and will be a great asset in their local community. We wish them every success in the future.”
Victoria Mavin, Licensee at The Pool Dole, commented: “We are so thrilled to have reopened the Pool Dole to the community and showcase this transformation. We are extremely excited to become a part of this neighbourhood and reveal all the exciting new initiative offerings. Our goal is to make sure The Pool Dole has something for everyone to ensure we become a pillar of the community. We want to thank Admiral for helping us get the pub where we want it to be.”
The King’s Way reopened in late February with a fantastic weekend full of entertainment that received outstanding feedback from the local community. The pub hosts live music every other Saturday from 8pm, followed by the Orange Bicycle Club at 10pm, the longest running disco night in Stoke. Hayley and Pete are committed to becoming integral members of the community and are currently hosting rock and roll bingo on the last Friday of every month to raise money for a defibrillator installation at the pub. Hayley and Pete wanted to keep the traditional characteristics of the pub, including pies and burgers and patterned tartan wallpaper. However, they wanted to incorporate a modern twist by adding contemporary colours such as grey and blue and creating a function room that will be ideal for parties, with Sky Sports throughout.
Hayley Gidman, Licensee at The King’s Way, commented: “We are delighted with the refurbishment and have received incredible feedback on the pub’s new look. Being in the hospitality industry has always been our passion, and we are happy we have achieved our vision. We cannot wait for what is to come, to hold many more enjoyable evenings and charity days for our local community.”
