New company revives Yorkshire pubs

27/07/2010

A new pub company has been formed in Yorkshire with the aim of giving customers a flavour of local attractions, architecture and history.
Provenance Inns has been co-founded by Michael Ibbotson, the owner of the award-winning Durham Ox, and former Morrisons director, Chris Blundell.
Already the new venture has acquired three pubs in Helperby, Brafferton and Felixkirk in North Yorkshire.
The pubs, set to open soon, will feature locally-sourced food, with Mr Blundell supplying fresh produce from his farm and market garden.
Mr Ibbotson is hoping to replicate the success of Durham Ox which he has owned for 10 years and which was voted AA's pub of the year in 2008.
He said: "We have always been passionate about the Durham Ox being a great pub or inn. We serve drink, we serve food and people can stay.
"It is a real reflection of what the British Inn was, and is, all about. Inns can still have high standards of service and professional kitchens without losing their charm and integrity.
"I am not going to be so brash as to pretend that we have the secret, but I am also not going to apologise for the hard work, high standards, training and commitment that have proven to be successful."
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