Northcote Group, owner of the Michelin-starred Northcote Manor restaurant and Ribble Valley Inns pub group, has announced a management buyout of Northcote Offsite, its outside catering business.

Martin Jones, the current operations director of Northcote Offsite, is leading the buyout and will rename the business With a Twist.

The move comes as Craig Bancroft and Nigel Haworth, managing directors of the Lancashire based Northcote Group, are overseeing a significant period of expansion.

Northcote Manor has recently undergone a refurbishment; Northcote at the Rovers – the hospitality operation at Blackburn Rovers Football Club – is growing quickly; while a number of new openings under the Ribble Valley Inns brand are planned.

“With so much happening on so many fronts, it's clear that we need to focus on the core businesses in the group, giving them the direction they need,” said Bancroft.

“This development will enable us to put renewed emphasis on the main catering contract at Ewood Park - in place until 2013 - and give even more focus and drive to matchday corporate hospitality and non-matchday activity.”

“We can also dedicate more time to Northcote Manor as we complete the final phases of our ambitious development plans, and to Ribble Valley Inns whose success has been well documented,” he added.

Ribble Valley Inns completes deal for second site >>

Nigel Haworth and Craig Bancroft >>

Dodds leaves Northcote Manor for Stanley House >>

Behind the scenes at Northcote Manor >>

By Daniel Thomas

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