There is a sense of cautious optimism amongst the surviving pubs; • closure rate is slowing, the weak have gone and there are even a few new openings. Those that have made it through the recession and credit crunch may be • well placed for the recovery and growth. Pub food has really improved and there is significant potential for • growth with 60% of people ordering food when they visit pubs. Customers are looking for a wider mix of products with a revival of • cask ales and craft beers, greater attention to wines, interest in premium soft drinks, popularity of speciality coffees; all of this creates less dependency on lager and the potential for a higher margin. Other recent market research has indicated these strengths and opportunities for pubs: Eating out remains a top consumer spending priority with the UK’s pub catering market expected to grow in from £6.57bn to £7.7bn by 2017, according to Mintel. Innovating, for example, by offering restaurant-style food, can support a perception of pubs as a place to go for special occasions. Meanwhile, ensuring their coffee offer is good quality and in step with current trends should enable operators to tap into the lucrative out-of-home coffee market. Growth opportunities still exist in, for example, breakfast/café culture sector or takeaways. Food festivals and themed evenings offer a way to boost eating out frequency. The community population of Thurlow (Great and Little) is approximately 430 and Bradley (Great and Little) is around 460. The Cock is the last pub in these villages. In addition it is close to the local village of Withersfield (450) which is served by the White Horse pub (now named 'Bradmans') and the growing town of Haverhill (27,000). The food offering for this population is poor with very few well regarded restaurants in the area (The Black Bull Inn at Balsham being the nearest pub/restaurant with an AA rosette). With more and more profit being generated through food this is an area key to our pub’s sustainability. 3. The Thurlow Cock Property –
• There is a sense of cautious optimism amongst the surviving pubs; closure rate is slowing, the weak have gone and there are even a few new openings. • Those that have made it through the recession and credit crunch may be well placed for the recovery and growth. • Pub food has really improved and there is significant potential for growth with 60% of people ordering food when they visit pubs. • Customers are looking for a wider mix of products with a revival of cask ales and craft beers, greater attention to wines, interest in premium soft drinks, popularity of speciality coffees; all of this creates less dependency on lager and the potential for a higher margin. Other recent market research has indicated these strengths and opportunities for pubs: Eating out remains a top consumer spending priority with the UK’s pub catering market expected to grow in from £6.57bn to £7.7bn by 2017, according to Mintel. Innovating, for example, by offering restaurant-style food, can support a perception of pubs as a place to go for special occasions. Meanwhile, ensuring their coffee offer is good quality and in step with current trends should enable operators to tap into the lucrative out-of-home coffee market. Growth opportunities still exist in, for example, breakfast/café culture sector or takeaways. Food festivals and themed evenings offer a way to boost eating out frequency. The community population of Thurlow (Great and Little) is approximately 430 and Bradley (Great and Little) is around 460. The Cock is the last pub in these villages. In addition it is close to the local village of Withersfield (450) which is served by the White Horse pub (now named 'Bradmans') and the growing town of Haverhill (27,000). The food offering for this population is poor with very few well regarded restaurants in the area (The Black Bull Inn at Balsham being the nearest pub/restaurant with an AA rosette). With more and more profit being generated through food this is an area key to our pub’s sustainability. 3. The Thurlow Cock – Property
Thurlow_Cock_business_plan-2.docx