Oakman Inns launches managed contracts division Ashmore Inns

Pub company Oakman Inns has launched new managed contracts division called Ashmore Inns that will oversee sites that don’t fit the typical company profile.

The division will be responsible for the management under contract of pubs where the freeholds remain a part, for example, of family estates.

Business development manager Jack Ashmore will manage the new arm of the business. After joining Oakman Inns as a university graduate just over 10 years ago, Ashmore went on to become one of the company’s most successful general managers.

His achievements as new openings manager, overseeing the launch of the Polecat and the Lost Boy, led Ashmore to be “an ideal candidate to lead the new initiative”, according to Peter Borg-Neal, chief executive of Oakman Inns (pictured). “We needed a name for the project and, for want of a better option, decided to name it after Jack.”

The new division signed its first management contract last month with traditional British meats, game and fish specialist the Pointer in Brill, Buckinghamshire.

Two more pubs will be added to the Ashmore Inns portfolio this week following the completion of deals with the White Swan in Twickenham and the Three Locks in Stoke Hammond.

Commenting on the Three Locks, Ashmore said: “Our new venture and the opportunity to manage this gorgeous canal side pub are very exciting. The transfer to our management control of the Three Locks has been seamless, and all the staff have transferred over via TUPE.

“The pub is in pretty good decorative order having been recently refurbished, so we can focus all our attention on familiarising the staff with the way we do things; begin training on our service standards; and focus on providing all our customers with a great Christmas party venue for both workmates and family.”

Borg-Neal added: “I think Ashmore Inns is going to play a very profitable role in the ever-developing Oakman story.

“Taking on pubs that we admire under sensible commercial terms on a managed contract basis ultimately improves the value of the property for the owners as we improve footfall and sales.”