Varsity (pub chain)
| Company type | Brand |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Founded | c.1997 |
| Founder | Wolverhampton & Dudley |
| Headquarters | 500 Capability Green, Luton |
Area served | England and Wales |
| Products | 23 student themed pubs |
| Owner | Stonegate Pub Company (2013–) Wolverhampton & Dudley (c.1997–2001) |
| Website | Stonegate Pub Company |
Varsity was a student-focused pub chain operating in the United Kingdom. The name originates from annual university sports competitions. It entered administration in 2013.[1] Coventry is the only remaining pub bearing the name Varsity which is now operated by Stonegate Pub Company.[2]
History[edit]
The chain began in the mid-1990s. Its main competitor was Scream Pubs. Varsity was more sports-orientated than It's A Scream.
Varsity Wolverhampton – the first varsity bar in the chain – shut its doors in June 2012 after The University of Wolverhampton made a successful bid to the struggling Barracuda Group to purchase the building. It ceased trading in 2013.[1]
Ownership[edit]
Wolverhampton and Dudley[edit]
Varsity was founded by Wolverhampton & Dudley.
Barracuda Group[edit]
The Barracuda Group was formed in July 2000 by PPM Ventures, a private equity company that became Silverfleet Capital.
In September 2001 Barracuda Group bought fifty pubs from Wolverhampton & Dudley for £37.25 million, which included the 22 pubs of the Varsity chain.[3]
In June 2005, the Barracuda Group was sold for £262 million to Charterhouse Capital Partners. In August 2006 there were 36 Varsity bars.[4]
In October 2012, Barracuda was renamed The Bramwell Pub Company.[5]
The Stonegate Pub Company[edit]
In October 2013, The Bramwell Pub Company went into administration. The Stonegate Pub Company bought 78 of the company's pubs including the Varsities in Lincoln and Coventry.[6]
Operation[edit]
It operated the V Card, one of the first loyalty cards, which allowed a cheaper price for some drinks, and allows better offers on some of the food deals.[7]
Previous Estate[edit]
North West England[edit]
- Longsight, Manchester, near the Elizabeth Gaskell campus of Manchester Metropolitan University
- Bolton, Churchgate
- Church Street, Preston
North East England[edit]
- Sunderland, near the University of Sunderland, off the A1231[8]
- Durham
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Yorkshire and the Humber[edit]
- Huddersfield
- Hull
- Leeds
- Sheffield, on West Street, on the Sheffield Supertram near the University of Sheffield (science and engineering departments)[9][10]
East Midlands[edit]
- Leicester – two, on Friar Lane in the city centre, and London Road (A6) towards the University of Leicester
- Lincoln[11]
- Loughborough
West Midlands[edit]
- Coventry, on Gibbet Hill Road, between the main University of Warwick campus and Westwood (Campus)[12]
- Wolverhampton, at the University of Wolverhampton
South West England[edit]
South East England[edit]
- Southampton – on London Road. Closed in 2016.
- Southampton – on Portswood Broadway. Closed in 2013.
- Southend-on-Sea[13][14]
Wales[edit]
- Aberystwyth
- Bangor, near Bangor University
- Cardiff, near Cardiff University[15]
- Roath (Cardiff), off the A469 next to the railway (Rhymney Line)
- Swansea
References[edit]
- ^ a b Live, North Wales (1 November 2013). "Varsity Blues - bar chain with pubs in North and Mid Wales goes into administration". northwales. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ "Varsity, Coventry | Stonegate Corporate Site". www.stonegatepubs.com. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ "Wayback Machine has not archived that URL". Retrieved 27 March 2023.[dead link]
- ^ "Varsity Bars Room Hire".
- ^ "Barracuda restructures, becomes Bramwell Pub Co". 30 September 2012.
- ^ "Stonegate rescue some of Bramwell's Pubs". The Publicans Guide.
- ^ "Barracuda's Varsity bars target fresher". 27 August 2009.
- ^ "Sunderland Nightlife".
- ^ "Sheffield pub guide".
- ^ "Varsity - Sheffield South Yorkshire". www.pub-explorer.com.
- ^ "Lincoln".
- ^ "Varsity Warwick - Westwood Heath Coventry West Midlands". www.pub-explorer.com.
- ^ "Varsity - Southend on Sea Essex". www.pub-explorer.com.
- ^ "Pub Rooms Southend".
- ^ Cardiff pubs
External links[edit]
News items[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| Geographic | |
