Are you a talented Publican local to Congleton looking to bring your pub vision to life backed by an investment from Punch? If so, look no further than the Black Bear, previously known as the Bench Bistro.

Pub and location

You’ll discover this site on Congleton’s busy main street near a primary school, secondary school, and hospital.

This pub, with bags of potential, is about to embark on a rebirth, which is why we are looking for a local with the lens, knowledge, business acumen, and vision to create the type of venue locals crave.

Our current vision, which we welcome your challenge to, is a sports venue with a focus on drinks. It’s one way we could invest our budget to realise the pub’s new identity. But we are really intrigued by your ideas, so within the context of our investment limit, the pub venue is the perfect blank canvas for the right visionary Publican. Could this be a tapas bar, or do you think Turkish or an Indian food vibe is the way to go? Or do you agree that it would be most successful as a sports venue? What would you consider to be the USPs that will prove irresistible to the local demographic? We want to learn your perspective and why.

When considering the best way to configure this pub’s identity, think about how you could use the space to the best effect. For example, you could create themed zones in the open-plan area. You can turn the spacious car park into a lively beer garden where you can host popular community events. It’s a unique opportunity for you to put your own stamp on a cracking pub.

Ideal Publican

We’re seeking a seasoned hospitality professional with bags of energy, character, creativity, and ideas. You’ll have plenty of experience working in the type of pub venue you are proposing to run.

The ideal Publican will have excellent communication skills and be persuasive in sharing their vision for the pub. We’re looking for someone who loves people. You’ll know your locals’ names, what they drink, and where they like to sit, enjoying banter along the way.

You’ll also know how to bring your pub to life on social channels and love crafting enticing rhythms of the week, restlessly creating new reasons for guests to visit.

Accommodation

You’ll need to be local, as this pub does not have onsite accommodation.

About the Agreement

At Punch, we support talented, ambitious entrepreneurs who want to run brilliant pubs at the heart of their communities. That’s why our agreements are designed to be flexible, supportive and built around your vision.

Our Flexible Tenancy gives you the freedom to run your own pub with confidence. A tied agreement of up to five years, where you’ll benefit from the drink products available to Punch which also offers flexible notice periods. We offer flexible deposits, tie‑release options, and pricing structures to help you shape your business in a way that works for you.

Why Choose Punch?

When you partner with Punch, you’ll have an entire support system behind you, including:

• A forward thinking pub company, recognised nationally with multiple industry awards including winners of the Publican Awards 2022 & 2024!
• Potential investment to unlock your pub’s full potential
• Industry leading training through our award winning Academy, complete with state of the art kitchens, bars and our immersive Progress with Punch training programme.
• Access to our powerful online platform, the Punch Buying Club, where you can order stock and find resources to help you run your pub successfully.
• Ongoing coaching from expert Operations Managers and specialist support teams.
• Innovative digital learning through THIRST, our gamified online training app, offering compliance training through to driving sales training.
• A commitment to “Doing Well, By Doing Good” by championing communities, wellbeing and sustainability at every step.

Curious about how this agreement could work for you? You will find our Partnering with Punch guide in the ‘Relevant Downloads’ section below.

Chat to a recruitment advisor now about this pub business opportunity.