A GASTROPUB chain has added a new £1.2million "flagship" venue to its portfolio with bosses revealing they plan to open two more locations in the near future.

The Alma Inn in Laneshawbridge, the Derby Arms in Longridge and the Forest Inn in Fence were all saved from administration last year when the former Seafood Pub Company locations were bought by the national ‘premium pub’ chain, the Oakman Group.

As well as taking on six of the Seafood Pub Company’s venues, the Oakman Group also hired founder Joceyln Neve as the managing director of their new seafood division - after she announced her business would be enterting administration during the first lockdown.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Jocelyn Neve, who owned the Seafood Pub Company and now runs eight venues under the Oakman Group

The deal saved around 150 jobs in the area however two key locations - the Oyster and Otter in Blackburn and the Assheton Arms in Downham were not taken on by the new buyer.

Last month the Lancashire Telegraph reported that the Oyster and Otter had been purchased by new owners, and would be opening as the Foundry Tap and Kitchen.

Now, almost a year to the day after the venues were saved, the company has announced the opening of a new southern flagship, The Grand Junction Arms in Tring, following a six-month, £1.2 million redesign and renovation.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Inside the new venue in Tring, Hertfordshire

Joycelyn, who is from the Ribble Valley said: “I have really enjoyed becoming part of the Oakman family and it is great to be surrounded by people who are on my side and know what they are doing. It’s been a busy and very rewarding 12 months.

"We relaunched the six original Seafood Pub sites back in May after significant renovations and investment in the properties.

"Trading in those six pubs is 21.5 per cent ahead of pre-Covid performance, and we are delighted with the results. 

“We converted The Pointer at Brill in Buckinghamshire into a Seafood Pub in October - our first site in the South – which is also trading ahead of expectation.

"This week’s opening of the Grand Junction Arms brings us up to eight and we have another two sites in the immediate pipeline – one in Buckinghamshire and another in Lancashire."

Lancashire Telegraph:

Peter Borg-Neal, the founder and executive chairman of The Oakman Group, said: “This was bubbling away in the back of my mind for some time.

"A long time ago, my son Éamonn and I had discussed what we’d do to improve it after years of insensitive piecemeal alterations.

"Whilst we knew the building and the garden would require a great deal of work, we could see the potential and when I showed it to Joycelyn, she was convinced it would make an excellent Seafood Pub.”

He added: “The SPC acquisition has been a great success for The Oakman Group. As expected, it has been a good cultural fit and the business has seamlessly merged into the Oakman family. 

"The pubs are trading well and present a new dimension to our expansion plans for the future. In Joycelyn and Oakman managing director, Alex Ford, we have two of the most talented young operators in the country heading up our two key brands under the astute guidance of our CEO, Dermot King.”