One of the UK's largest pub operators has significantly bolstered its portfolio with a major new acquisition, continuing a strategic expansion drive. Admiral Taverns has announced the purchase of 21 leased and tenanted pubs from the RedCat Pub Company, marking a substantial £100 million investment into its estate.
A Strategic Push Towards 2,000 Pubs
This latest move is part of a clear growth strategy for the pub giant, which now has its sights set on operating a total of 2,000 pubs across the country. The deal with RedCat follows two other significant acquisitions in 2024. In May, Admiral Taverns bought 37 tenanted pubs from Fuller’s for £18.3 million, and in September, it acquired a further 18 locations from Marston’s for an undisclosed sum.
Chief Executive Chris Jowsey detailed the three-year effort behind the RedCat acquisition in an interview with The Morning Advertiser. While the exact price of this latest deal was not disclosed, Jowsey revealed that roughly £35 million has been invested by the company this year alone across its new sites.
Focus Remains Firmly on Community Pubs
Despite the rapid expansion, Admiral Taverns leadership insists the company's core ethos remains unchanged. "We know what we are good at, so we are not going to diversify into different pubs or operations, we are focused on community pubs, that’s what we do and what we love," stated Jowsey.
He emphasised a disciplined approach to growth, noting that opportunities must be "the right price, in the right place, and community focused." Jowsey added, "We probably turn down more than we go after. We’ve got bigger, but we haven’t lost our approach. There’s no one size fits all in our businesses."
For staff and regulars at the newly acquired pubs, the transition will be smooth. Jowsey assured that it would be "business as usual" over the critical Christmas trading period, with no changes implemented until the New Year.
Full List of Pubs Acquired from RedCat
The 21 pubs joining the Admiral Taverns estate are spread across England and Wales, with The Red Lion in Erdington, Birmingham being a notable inclusion. The complete list is as follows:
- The Antelope, High Wycombe
- The Three Tuns, High Wycombe
- The Old Packet House, Altrincham
- The Garden Farm, Chester-Le-Street
- The Anchor Inn, Benfleet
- The Castle, Great Leighs
- The Five Bells, Colne Engaine
- The Lion, Earls Colne
- The White Swan, Wickford
- The Elephant & Barrel, Fulham
- The Railway Tavern, Lower Edmonton
- The Windmill Inn, Wymeswold
- The Beehive, High Tranmere
- The Imperial Tavern, Birkenhead
- The Masons Arms, Caerphilly
- The Beeswing Ale House, York
- The Plough Inn, Fulford
- The Copper, Mapperley
- The Barca Art Bar, Gosforth
- The Blacksmiths Arms, Gosforth
- The Red Lion, Erdington
