Lib Group merges with UK pub chain

Tuesday 20 December 2022

One of the two main pub groups in Jersey has announced a merger with Cirrus Inns, a chain with 22 outlets based in the South of England.

It will now own and operate 137 pubs and over 400 rooms of accommodation in London, Bristol and the Channel Islands.

Lib Group CEO Jonathan Lawson will lead the combined group with Cirrus Inns founder Alex Pearse joining Liberation's Board as a Non-executive director. 

Mr Lawson said: “Liberation Group, Cirrus and our respective majority shareholders, share a very similar view of pubs, and the unique role they play in our communities. Langy and his team have built a superb business which we are incredibly proud to welcome into Liberation Group." 

He added: "In the short to medium term, people's local pub will not look or feel any different. Rather, this merger gives us greater scope and far greater economies of scale...it will allow us to keep providing better and better value and will give us far stronger choices for the future. It'll make us more attractive to prospective suppliers and we are already seeing a lot of positive reactions from them." 

The news comes just a few days after Jersey's politicians agreed the budget for next year, which included a freeze on alcohol duty, which was welcomed by Mr Lawson as as a positive step for the hospitality industry as it recovers from the pandemic. 

Pictured: Jonathan Lawson, CEO of Liberation Group, sees the alcohol freeze as "positive".

Mr Lawson said: "Any measures the States can take to help and support from a cost-based perspective, are really positive. Hospitality is and always has been a crucial part of the economy of the Island. We've come through the pandemic strong, but we know that our customers are under some pressure. We want to do whatever we can to keep providing great value."

Mr Lawson was positive about how the Christmas season was panning out for Liberation Group so far. He said: "We are pretty pleased with the Christmas trade, bookings are strong and all the teams are feeling optimistic for the rest of the season." 

Pictured above: Jonathan Lawson, CEO of Liberation Group.