Punch Pubs & Co Announce Joint Venture with Big Smoke

Big Smoke, led by the brilliant & innovative founders James Morgan & Richard Craig, has a longstanding relationship with the Punch leadership team.

Having established four excellent pubs, James & Richard were looking to expand their pub portfolio with a strategic partner to achieve their ambitious plans for growth. The Punch owned Prince of Wales Townhouse in Hammersmith presented the perfect starting point for this exciting joint venture.

Following a £210,000 investment, The Prince of Wales Townhouse reopened in October 2020, providing a superb backdrop to modern beers, hop-forward pales, crisp lagers, rich stouts & everything in between.

An extensive beer range, freshly prepared food and nine boutique bedrooms ensure the Prince of Wales Townhouse offers a truly modern British pub experience.

The White Horse in Welwyn was the second pub to form a part of this strategic partnership, identified by the team as a perfect fit for the Big Smoke family. A £110,000 investment saw new life breathed into this quintessentially British pub and the Big Smoke team welcomed guests back through its doors in April 2021.

Speaking about the joint venture, Big Smoke co-founder Richard Craig said, “With Big Smoke growing rapidly and our aspirations for further expansion requiring a strategic partner; Punch felt like a natural fit, as they understand our brand and our vision for the future.  Our fantastic working relationship and aligned values will enable us to grow the Big Smoke pub portfolio, bringing everything we love about modern beer and British pubs to the people of the South East.”

The next stage of this joint venture is already in the planning, with two new pubs in the pipeline. The Old Wheatsheaf in Enfield and The White Lion in St Albans are due to undergo investment in the coming weeks in readiness for reopening in time for summer trading.

Punch’s Managing Director, Andy Spencer, added, “Big Smoke are a young, exciting & ambitious brewery and pub company who we’re really proud to have partnered with. We are off to a fantastic start investing in & relaunching both The Prince of Wales Townhouse and the White Horse.

“Both pubs offer a warm welcome into a vibrant, comfortable & safe space for guests to enjoy a fantastic range of independently sourced beers, freshly prepared food & outstanding service all year round.  This is just the beginning; we have exciting plans on the horizon and look forward to working with the Big Smoke team for many years to come.”

About Big Smoke.