Full list of 13 Doncaster pubs 'at risk' as Stonegate chain faces £2.6bn debt

A firm that owns more than a dozen popular bars in Doncaster has insisted its business is “resilient” amid concerns over plans to re-finance.
By Darren Burke
Published 19th Jan 2024, 16:00 BST
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A number of Doncaster boozers owned by Stonegate Pub Company could be “at risk”, the GMB has warned.

The firm owns a number of city centre bars including Flares, Yates and Slug & Lettuce as well as several village pubs.

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The union claims parent company TDR Capital is seeking to refinance £2.6bn of debt.

The GMB says pubs are at risk all over the country, including several in Doncaster.The GMB says pubs are at risk all over the country, including several in Doncaster.
The GMB says pubs are at risk all over the country, including several in Doncaster.

Justin Bowden, GMB regional secretary, said: “The position with the Stonegate Pub Company’s finances is lacking in transparency, with the ultimate holding company based in the Cayman Islands.

“TDR Capital must be accountable to local people and they have a duty to safeguard 4,500 pubs which are vital community assets. GMB’s experience with private equity owners has been, and continues to be, wholly negative.

“We fear for the future of our local supermarkets and pubs in the hands of their private equity owners.”

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Stonegate is one of the largest pub companies in the UK, with more than 4,500 pubs and more than 19,000 workers.

A spokesperson for Stonegate said: “We continue to invest in our pubs and our people, in particular supporting local pubs which play such a key role in their communities.

“Our pub business remains very resilient despite the challenges our industry faces, with good like-for-like sales growth across the group.

“Following our recent successful financing announced in December as well as strong recent trading, we are well placed to deliver on our longer term objectives and we are very confident in our ability to re-finance at the appropriate time.”

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Gary Lindsay, boss of TDR Capital which also owns supermarket giant Asda, told the Business and Trade Select Committee on Tuesday January 9 he was ‘confident’ £2.6 billion of debts in the Stonegate Pub Company could be refinanced this year.

These are the Doncaster Stonegate pubs at risk according to the GMB:

Yorkshire Grey

Flares

Yates

Slug & Lettuce

Lord Nelson

The Saracens

The Alma, Conisbrough

The Hatfield Chace

New Masons, Mexborough

Earl of Strafford, Hooton Roberts

The Turnpike, Bawtry

The Robin Hood, Mexborough

The Red Bear, Thorne

Related topics:GMBStonegateDoncasterASDA