Slug and Lettuce

Slug and Lettuce
Private limited company
Industry Hospitality
Founded Islington, London in 1984
Founder Hugh Corbett
Headquarters Luton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
Key people
 Clare Staples (managing director)[1]
Revenue Decrease £44,134,000 (2011)[2]
Increase £1,366,000 (2011)[2]
Increase £1,357,000 (2011)[2]
Total assets Increase £77,826,000 (2011)[2]
Owner Stonegate Pub Company
Number of employees
 Increase 1,520 (2011)[2]
Website www.slugandlettuce.co.uk

Slug and Lettuce is a chain of bars that operate in the United Kingdom, with a large number located in London and South East England. As of 2013, there are a total of 70 outlets.[3] Hugh Corbett opened the first Slug and Lettuce opened in Islington in 1984. Corbett attempted to premiumise the pub experience, at a time when standards were often low.

The bars are designed for a youthful clientele, and aim to attract an equal number of women as well as men with "female friendly" designs. The chain has remained relevant by continually re-inventing itself for the contemporary marketplace. The chain has gone through a number of owners throughout its history, and is currently owned by the Stonegate Pub Company, based in Luton, Bedfordshire.


History

Hugh Corbett, an entrepreneur with a background in the hotel industry, opened The Slug and Lettuce pub on Islington Green, North London in 1984.[4] At the time, Islington was becoming increasingly gentrified due to its proximity to the City of London financial district.[5] Corbett owned a small number of pubs, which he rechristened with humorous or nonsensical names, with the effect of differentiating them from competitors. His pubs had the then notable differential of stripped out carpets and enlarged windows so that people could see inside from the street.[6] Corbett listed his business in 1989 as Fast Forward, by which time it was a nine-strong chain.[7] In 1990 Roger Protz identified the group as an imitation of David Bruce's Firkin chain pubs.[8]

A Slug and Lettuce in Durham

In 1992, the David Bruce controlled Grosvenor Inns acquired Fast Forward for £4.46 million, bringing Grosvenor's total number of pubs to thirty.[9] By this time, Fast Forward owned thirteen pubs, all based around the London area, with seven under the Slug name.[9] The decision was taken to appeal to customers in their 20s and 30s and make the bar "more contemporary", "more of a bar, less of a pub", "young and even rowdy" and "not blokey - not a very male environment", aiming for an equal proportion of both male and female clientele.[10] Sheila McKenzie, who had founded the female-friendly Pitcher & Piano chain, was enlisted to enact these changes, and the Slug and Lettuce concept has been described as her "brainchild".[11] Grovesnor felt that the pub chain had "lost its way", and concentrated on boosting its food operations.[12]

In 1995, Slug and Lettuce was rebranded again, this time as a "contemporary English bar", designed to occupy the middle ground between a continental cafe and a classic English pub.[13] By this time, food constituted 30 per cent of total sales.[12] In 1997 the chain identified its primary competitors as the All Bar One and Pitcher & Piano bar chains.[10] In 1998 Grosvenor Inns changed its name to The Slug and Lettuce Group, reflecting the fact that the now 22-strong chain had become the company's sole focus.[14] The chain also announced that it would not stock the Amusement with Prizes machines common in many other pubs.[14] In 1998, the chain encountered its first major setback after it expanded into the North of England with five outlets in Nottingham, York, Manchester, Harrogate and Leeds.[15] These all made profit losses in their first six months of operation, which triggered the company's first profit warning.[16] In 1999, the chain first entered the Scottish market, with an outlet in Glasgow.[17] Meanwhile, the company board was criticised for a lack of dynamism and being too slow to expand its number of outlets.[18] The chain launched a website in February 2000.[19] All Slug and Lettuce outlets serve food throughout the day, and the meals are English inspired, with offerings including sandwiches, burgers, pasta and salads. Outlets sell a range of cocktails, beer and wine. Since 2011, outlets have opened early for breakfast.

A Slug and Lettuce at Canary Wharf, London

In mid-2000, SFI, the owner of the Litten Tree bar chain, announced a £31.6 million takeover of Slug and Lettuce, paid for in shares, and McKenzie left the chain in order to pursue new challenges.[20] By this time the chain had 32 outlets.[21] According to analysts, the chain was too small and had too much debt to survive alone.[22] SFI refurbished a number of their existing pubs under the Slug and Lettuce concept, and by 2004 the chain had 56 outlets.[23] In 2005, SFI attempted to reposition the chain as an upmarket place to eat, in anticipation of the forthcoming smoking ban.[24] In June 2005 SFI went into administration, and sold 98 of its 150 outlets to the Laurel Pub Company, controlled by Robert Tchenguiz, for £80 million.[25] In 2008 Laurel itself collapsed, and the Slug chain became a part of the Bay Restaurant Group, later Town & City Pub Company. The chain has withdrawn from a number of locations, including Glasgow and Cardiff, leaving it with only one location in Scotland, and no presence in Wales.[26] In 2010, Town & City began to refurbish the outlets, switching from a brown colour scheme to aubergine and updating upholstery and lighting.[27] In June 2011 Town & City merged with the Stonegate Pub Company.

Since 2011 outlets have opened early in order to serve breakfast.[28] In September 2012 the Stonegate company chairman Ian Payne announced plans to expand the chain, which he claimed had outperformed the high street for the past three years, and was enjoying double digit growth.[29] As of 2012, outlets are being refurbished with a colour scheme of gold, purple, green and plum.[30]

Operations

The menu largely comprises traditional English inspired cuisine, and includes such items as burgers, curries, pasta and salads.[31] In drinks, the chain focuses on beer, wine and spirits based cocktails such as the Long Island Ice Tea and mojitos.[32] Some outlets sell cask ale. In 2006 the chain switched to selling exclusively fair trade coffee.[33] In 2000, average annual turnover of each site was just below £900,000.[17] Outlets typically occupy around 2,000 square feet in area, and include converted banks and churches.[12]

Reception

In 1994 The Times described the chain as "a modish hang-out for the stripped pine brigade".[34] The chain's interior layout has been described as "minimalist".[35] The chain has been criticised by some, such as the writer Will Self, for spreading a bland uniformity throughout British high streets, and for removing individual elements from the pubs that it converts.[36][37] In 1997, a Slug and Lettuce in a listed building in Islington Green illegally removed its old mahogany bar, which it was later forced to restore.[38]

The appeal of the Slug and Lettuce concept has seen it become widely imitated, with Zoe Williams of The Guardian commenting in 2012, "Does anybody remember in the 90s, when the Slug and Lettuce pub chain deliberately fancied itself up to appeal to the lady drinker? And wham, two seconds later, that's where all the men wanted to drink as well, so that all pubs had to become more like Slugs and Lettuces just to survive?"[39]

References

  1. ↑ Harrington, John (10 January 2014). "Stonegate appoints former Gondola exec Clare Staples". Morning Advertiser. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Accounts filed at Companies House, 25 September 2011
  3. ↑ "Welcome to Slug and Lettuce". Slug and Lettuce. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Yates, Andrew (6 January 1998). "Slug & Lettuce entrepreneur plans float for his latest pub venture". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  5. ↑ Wolf, Matt (11 March 1990). "A New London Theater Team Is Attracting Stars". New York Times. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  6. ↑ Corbett, Hugh (16 November 2002). "The wheel is still round - there are few new ideas". The Times.
  7. ↑ Owen, David (6 January 1990). "Tavern Buys Fast Forward Stake". Financial Times.
  8. ↑ Protz, Roger (28 July 1990). "Beer: Phoenix rises from the mashes". The Guardian.
  9. 1 2 Pearse, Peter. "Grosvenor Inns Joins Usm with an £8.1m. Tag." Financial Times 21 May 1992: 25. Financial Times. Web. 4 Nov. 2012.
  10. 1 2 "A Fresh Leaf for Slug and Lettuce". Financial Times. 27 February 1997.
  11. ↑ Finch, Julia (15 March 2000). "Slug & Lettuce makes a tempting morsel". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 "Fighting for space". Caterer & Hotelkeeper. 16 November 1995. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  13. ↑ "Rebranding of The Slug & Lettuce pubs takes future drinking trends into account". Brand Strategy. 31 March 1995.
  14. 1 2 Blackwell, David (14 February 1998). "Slug and Lettuce Growth". Financial Times.
  15. ↑ "Business news in brief". The Guardian. London. 18 February 1999. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  16. ↑ Pretzlik, Charles (13 August 1999). "Slug and Lettuce in Northern Lift". Financial Times.
  17. 1 2 "New look for new Slug & Lettuce". Morning Advertiser. 30 April 2000. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  18. ↑ Griffiths, Katherine (3 May 2000). "SLUG & LETTUCE SEEKS NIGHT-CLUB DEAL". The Independent.
  19. ↑ "Net presence for Slug and Lettuce bars". revolutionmagazine.com. 26 January 2000. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  20. ↑ "Slug & Lettuce Agrees Sfi Takeover". Financial Times. 29 June 2000.
  21. ↑ Duckers, John (29 June 2000). "Bar Med Group Deal Calls Time on Rivals". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  22. ↑ Baker, Lucy (29 June 2000). "Troubled Slug & Lettuce Chain Surrenders to Pounds 28.2m SFI Offer". The Independent.
  23. ↑ Blackwell, David. "Slug & Lettuce Owner Trims Loss by £83.6m." Financial Times [London, England] 2 Oct. 2004: 4. Financial Times. Web. 4 Nov. 2012.
  24. ↑ Werbner, Donna (4 March 2005). "Slug and Lettuce focuses on food". PR Week UK. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  25. ↑ Grande, Carlos. "SFI Agrees to £80m. Sale of 98 Outlets to Laurel." Financial Times [London, England] 25 June 2005: 2. Financial Times. Web. 4 Nov. 2012.
  26. ↑ "Find A Bar". Slug and Lettuce. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  27. ↑ Champ, Hamish (27 July 2010). "Town & City trials new look for Slug & Lettuce". The Publican. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  28. ↑ Goodman, Matthew (17 July 2011). "Pubs wake up and smell a sizzling profit in breakfast; You have to get up early to see the latest battle of the taverns". The Sunday Times.
  29. ↑ "Stonegate chief Ian Payne looks to expand Slug & Lettuce and Yates's concepts". 7 September 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  30. ↑ Tremelling, Laura (20 September 2012). "Prominent pub to close in heart of city". Bath Chronicle.
  31. ↑ "Pub Food in Focus: Head to Head". Morning Advertiser. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  32. ↑ "Drinks Menu" (PDF). Slug and Lettuce. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  33. ↑ Murphy, Claire (22 February 2006). "Ethical investment". Brand Republic. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  34. ↑ "Tony who?". The Times. 10 September 1994.
  35. ↑ Bolton, Jane (20 September 2000). "Lunch break". The Times.
  36. ↑ Self, Will (14 April 2011). "The blond, bland blend". New Statesman. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  37. ↑ Keating, Sheila (29 April 2000). "The inn thing". The Times.
  38. ↑ "Grand overhaul". The Evening Standard. 16 June 1998.
  39. ↑ Williams, Zoe (14 August 2012). "G2: Shortcuts: Ladytown: Saudi's women-only city: what to expect". The Guardian.

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