What brands does Stonegate own? Full list of chains at risk

STONEGATE is Britain’s biggest pub company – but which brands does it own?

The company owns more than 4,00O sites across the UK so you will likely have visited one if not more of its locations.

Stonegate owns 4,432 sites across the UK under the Slug & Lettuce, Be at One, Sports Bar & Grill brands and 350 traditional style pubs under its “Proper pubs” banner.

The company recently raised fears about its survival, telling investors that there is a risk that £2.3billion of debt cannot be refinanced by a deadline next July.

As a result, Stonegate’s company house accounts say there is “material uncertainty that casts doubt on the company’s ability to continue as a going concern”.

While nothing has been confirmed yet, the accounts say that there is a plan in place for refinancing the debt.

We explain more about Stonegate and which pub chains could be at risk following this recent news.

What is the Stonegate group?

The Stonegate Pub company was formed in November 2010 following the acquisition of 33 pubs from Mitchell and Butlers.

In 2011 the company went on to purchase the Town and City Pub Company, acquiring the well-known Yates, and Slug & Lettuce brands.

The pub giant then took on further sites from Maclay Inns and the Tattershall Castle Group.

In 2016 it took on ten Wetherspoon locations and also acquired the popular Aussie-themed pub chain Walkabout.

Going from strength to strength a couple of years later in 2018 it took over 15 sites from Novus Leisure and also purchased the leading cocktail bar specialist, Be at One.

In 2109 Stonegate acquired Bar Fever Ltd adding another 32 venues to its portfolio.

Most recently in March 2020, it bought Ei Group for £1.27billion, making it the largest pub company in the UK

Full list of pub chains owned by Stonegate

Stonegate’s portfolio now comprises 1,289 sites within the managed division and 3,284 leased and tenanted businesses.

The managed division includes a mix of branded and unbranded bars, pubs and venues.

Here is a list of the branded pub and bar chains that could be affected:

• Slug and Lettuce
• Walkabout
• Be At One
• Popworld venues
• Fever venues
• Sports bar and grill
• Craft Union pub company

The business also has a leased and tenanted estate that consists of over 3,000 pubs and joint ventures with other operators in the pub industry.

Stonegate currently has partnerships with the following businesses

• Frontier Pubs
• Bestplace
• Mash Inns
• Six Cheers
• Hust Heth Inns
• Old Spot
• Urban Pubs & Bars 2

What else is happening on the pub scene?

Stonegate is not the only company in the pub sector to be struggling amid the cost of living crisis.

Earlier this year The Sun revealed that over 7,000 pubs are expected to go bust in the next year.

Rising costs and fewer punters through the door has meant that four out of five pubs have seen their profits take a nosedive.

Wetherspoons has already shut more than 40 pubs and punters could be set to lose as many as 19 more.

In September last year the chain – which has 827 pubs across the UK – announced that it was putting dozens of pubs up for sale.

Almost half a dozen pubs remain up for sale, although just a few weeks ago it announced that two had been saved.

The Rochester Castle in London’s Stoke Newington and the Gate House in Doncaster will now remain part of the hospitality giant’s portfolio.

In 2023 The Sun revealed that more than 500 British pubs closed their doors for the final time.

Last year, 6,000 people were put out of work as a result of boozers having to call time.

Meanwhile, popular bar chain Revolution is reportedly in talks about shutting the doors on around 20 of its worst-performing pubs.

There is said to be a proposal to axe about a quarter of its venues to keep afloat.

It is unknown how many people could face job cuts, but one insider said it could reach into the hundreds.

Revolution Bars revealed in January it would have to close eight of its boozers, and blamed younger customers spending less than they used to.