Brighton pub company boss steps down

Long-serving Brighton pub company boss Gary Pettet has stepped down as executive chairman of the Laine Pub Company.

Mr Pettet, 57, has worked at the company for more than a decade, overseeing an expansion that has turned it into the area’s biggest pub business.

The company said: “Gary Pettet has stepped down as executive chairman of South East pub operator and craft brewer – the Laine Pub Company – in order to focus on his other business interests.

“Originally appointed by Graphite Capital in 2002 to oversee its investment in late night bar operator C-Side, he led a 2007 merger with Brighton pub operator Zelgrain to create the business that now trades as Laine Pub Company and which operates an estate of 55 pubs in Brighton and London and produces a range of craft beers in its production brewery in Sussex.

“The group also operates five pubs in its Mash Inns partnership with EI Group.

“In May 2018 Patron Capital and May Capital became the company’s backers through Vine Acquisitions, which also backs Punch Taverns.

“Laine’s CEO and co-founder Gavin George continues to lead Laine with the existing management team.”

Mr Pettet said “It has been a pleasure to have been a part of the Laine Pub Company over the last 16 years, helping it develop into a leading pub operator and now one of the fastest growing craft breweries in the UK.

“I wish Gavin, the Laine team and their new backers the very best for the future.”

Laine’s CEO, Gavin George, said: “Gary is a big personality and an experienced leader in the trade.

“His contribution to the development of the company has been invaluable and on behalf of everyone at Laine I’d like to thank him for all he has done and to wish him well with his future endeavours.”

Mr George added: “As Laine moves on to the next stage of its development, we have been strengthening our business management and operations resource in both the pub and brewing businesses.

“Our new backers are supporting accelerated growth for the company and this has led to fantastic investment opportunities in our pub estate and in our Adversane brewery.

“The next pub opening is the Ninth Life in Catford, scheduled for early in the new year, which we believe will take our experiential pub offerings to a new level.

“Laine Brew Co has recently signed distribution agreements with some of the UK’s leading pub operators for its craft beer portfolio which includes Source pale ale, Ripper IPA, Word lager, Mangolicious pale ale and Breaker pale ale.

“These are exciting times for all aspects of the Laine business.”