Fifteen years later, Red Oak runs more than 230 and the same two people still provide most of the group’s day-to-day management.
We’re owned by our founders and a few like-minded investors, not a fund with an exit plan.
Red Oak Taverns is formed by Aaron Brown and Mark Grunnell with a focus on acquiring and supporting community based pubs.
The estate begins to expand, with a clear emphasis on sustainable growth and structured tenant partnerships.
Continued investment in tenant partners and pubs, with 106 new acquisitions made since 2019, strengthens the company’s position as a national operator with a local mindset.
With more than 230 pubs nationwide, Red Oak Taverns remains focused on long term performance, property investment and strong operational support. Throughout this journey, our approach has remained consistent: disciplined growth, responsible management and active support for the people who run our pubs.
Before we spend anything, our team looks at what that specific pub needs, working closely with our tenant partner. We review its condition, how it’s trading and what it means to the people who drink there.
That’s why a village local like the Pied Bull, Shepshed gets a different kind of investment to a food-led village pub like the New Inn, Park Bottom. We build pubs for local customers addressing different problems and opportunities, not following the same template.
It’s also why every pub, not just the ones that end up as case studies, gets a visit from one of our executives at least once a year, in person, rather than a report from head office.
Every tenant partner gets regular, scheduled time with their BDM: reviewing how trade’s going, talking through plans, and catching problems and opportunities early.
It’s the difference between a BDM who turns up because it’s their job to know your business, and one who only calls when something’s already gone wrong.
A pub losing its way is a loss to the whole community, not just to us. That’s why when a pub’s had a tough few years, like the Anchor in Boroughbridge did before Liam took it on, we’d rather keep pushing to find the right tenant and back them properly than let the building sit empty.
If we can’t do this then we will always seek the best alternative for that pub and community on a pub by pub basis.
We’ve grown from 32 pubs in 2011 to more than 230 today, and we’re planning to keep growing.
Buying more pubs, backing more tenant partners, and doing more of what’s worked so far.
If you’re thinking about taking one on, that’s worth knowing: you’d be joining a company that’s expanding, investing and building real partnerships in pubs all over the country.
Aaron Brown and Mark Grunnell remain actively involved in the executive management of Red Oak Taverns. Their continued day to day leadership ensures that decisions are informed by experience and a deep understanding of the estate.
We operate with clear governance, financial discipline and compliance with relevant legislation and industry standards. Transparency and accountability underpin our relationships with tenant partners, lenders and other stakeholders.
