Gavin George to step down as Laine Pub Company CEO

Gavin George is to step down as chief executive of Laine Pub Company after 27 years.

He will move away from day-to-day management at the pub and brewing business he co-founded in 1997 with Peter Bennett.

George will instead transition into a new position as non-executive director within the wider Punch Pubs & Co business, where he remains a shareholder.

Russell Danks, who joined as managing director of Laine’s pub arm last year, will take over management from late September supported by Martin Entwistle, who oversees its brewing division.

Laine Pub Company currently operates over 50 sites across London, Birmingham and its heartland of Brighton.

George said: “I have had the most amazing 27 years, leading a wonderfully progressive business with incredible pubs, teams and customers. I’m grateful to everyone who has played a part in Laine’s success and for supporting me through the good times and the challenging.

“I’d particularly like to thank all the managers and staff of the myriad pubs, clubs, bars and breweries we have operated over the years, for their creativity, energy and resilience, more recently in the face of significant challenges such as a pandemic, wars and economic turmoil.

“I’d also like to pay tribute to the people of Brighton & Hove - the city of Laine’s birth - whose constancy from day one, and unique outlook on the world have been the inspiration and facilitator for much of what Laine has achieved.”

Punch Pubs & Co, which includes the Laine’s business, has been owned by private equity firm Fortress Investment Group since 2021.