Exclusive – RedCat sells 21-strong leased and tenanted division to Admiral Taverns: RedCat Hospitality, the operator of Coaching Inn Group and RedCat Independent Pubs, has reached an agreement with community pub group Admiral Taverns over the sale of its leased and tenanted pubs division, Propel has learned. RedCat, which was founded by Rooney Anand, said the agreement marks a strategic milestone as it sharpens its focus on investment and acquisitions across its circa 75-strong managed estate, which includes the award-winning Coaching Inn Group, recently named Which? Best Large UK Hotel Chain of the Year 2025. Admiral Taverns said the deal will bring a further 21 high-quality sites to its award-winning estate of circa 1,350 community, wet-led pubs. RedCat Hospitality chief executive Richard Lewis, said: “This is the right move for our business. RedCat’s greatest opportunity lies in further expanding and investing behind our managed business and pubs-with-rooms model, where we see strong and sustained customer demand. On behalf of the wider business, I want to recognise our pub partners and thank Ali Martinez, who has led the division with commitment and integrity. We are proud of the partnership we’ve built, and are pleased to see these pubs transfer to Admiral Taverns, a proven and high-quality operator of community pubs.” Admiral Taverns chief executive Chris Jowsey said: “We are passionate about championing great community pubs and are delighted to welcome our new licensees and colleagues into the Admiral family. This high-quality portfolio complements our existing estate and marks yet another step forward against our strategy, as we continue to expand our nationwide footprint and cement our position as the UK’s leading community pub group. We look forward to supporting these pubs and enabling them to thrive at the heart of their local communities, up and down the country.” RedCat was advised by Sapient Corporate Finance. Earlier this month, RedCat reported a 4.3% increase in like-for-like sales in the three months to the end of September, driven by accelerated accommodation performance and strategic investments. The company reported total sales for the period of £34.6m, with Coaching Inn Group contributing £20.9m and RedCat Independent Pubs £13.7m. Coaching Inn Group like-for-like sales up during the quarter were up 5.4%, while RedCat Independent Pubs like-for-like sales increased 2.5%. The company said total accommodation sales stood at £10.7m during the period, with Coaching Inn Group accommodation sales at £9m and its accommodation life-for-like sales up 10.1%. For the year to 26 May 2024, Admiral Taverns generated underlying adjusted profits of £59.7m, up from £55.9m in 2023, on higher revenue of £194.5m (2023: £182.0m). RedCat and Admiral Taverns both feature in the Premium Club Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the latest edition of which features 1,182 companies. RedCat’s turnover of £124.3m for the 12 months to the end of March 2025 is the 103rd highest in the database while Admiral Taverns of £194.5m is the 68th. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

Masala Zone owner acquired by Canadian financial group Fairfax as it plots international expansion: MW Eat – which operates upmarket restaurants Veeraswamy, Chutney Mary and Amaya, and the four-strong Masala Zone business – has been acquired by Canadian financial group Fairfax. The acquisition will accelerate MW Eat’s growth strategy as Fairfax said it plans to make significant investments in the group to pursue international expansion aligned with the successful brand values and explore new restaurant formats. MW Eat was started by Namita Panjabi and Ranjit Mathrani with the creation of Chutney Mary in 1990. Camellia Panjabi, the former main board member at Taj Hotels, joined them in 2001. Namita and Camellia Panjabi and Mathrani will continue working with Fairfax “so there can be a seamless handover as the MW Eat’s group of restaurants is expanded”. MW Eat said its expansion plans will also benefit from Fairfax’s understanding of India’s business landscape and commitment to India through several major investments across the Indian economy, including Bangalore International airport, one of India’s largest and fastest-growing aviation hubs; Thomas Cook (India), a major player in travel, foreign exchange and related services, and Sterling Holiday Resorts, a vacation ownership and leisure hospitality group. Camellia Panjabi said: “This acquisition marks a transformative chapter for MW Eat. Fairfax brings financial strength, global perspective, vision and a long-standing commitment to India. These qualities perfectly complement MW Eat’s heritage and future ambitions. We have developed excellent restaurants with excellent people whose career opportunities will be enhanced by the new investment and ambitions of Fairfax. MW Eat is in very safe hands. The three MW Eat directors look forward to supporting Fairfax to take our unique brands global. Our committed staff backed by the new owners will make this happen.” Fairfax chairman and chief executive, Prem Watsa, said: “We are delighted to welcome MW Eat into the Fairfax family. The leadership team at MW Eat, led by Ranjit, Namita and Camellia, has done a terrific job building a number of iconic restaurant brands, and we are very pleased to take stewardship of these brands in the years to come. We are familiar with hospitality businesses through our operating subsidiary Recipe Restaurant Group (the largest full service multi-brand restaurant company in Canada) and we remain optimistic about the potential for MW Eat over the long term.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed. For the year ending 31 March 2025, MW Eat reported turnover increased to £31,789,469 compared with £31,372,050 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was up to £4,433,462 from £3,376,685 the year before.