London Town appoints caretakers to maintain empty pubs

Pub operator London Town has revealed plans to create hundreds of jobs by recruiting caretakers to look after pubs it has closed.
 
The 300-strong tenanted and managed pub company will create between 100-300 jobs for caretakers, watchmen and live-in concierges to look after closed premises across the country.
 
London Town’s chief executive Billy Buchanan said the initiative presented a “realistic and cost effective” alternative to boarding pubs up and leaving them empty.
 
“We are always looking for ways to help improve the health of the pub industry in Britain,” he said. “The costs of boarding are considerable and the damage the process can cause to the fabric of the building can be very disturbing.
 
“Insurance companies also usually want gas and electricity services to be disconnected in empty pubs for safety reasons and the cost of re-installing these services has to be taken into account as well,” Buchanan added.
 
Caretaker positions will initially be offered to self-employed people but eventually permanent roles will be offered with ‘premium’ caretakers managing additional staff.
 
Buchanan added that there will be “no strict template for the jobs” with some caretakers staying overnight in the pubs and others visiting on a regular basis.
 
The initiative follows another campaign by London Town to identify outlets that have closed but have a viable future given proper management and logistical support which resulted in the re-opening of 160 pubs and 850 new jobs.
 

London Town appoints new chief executive >>
 
London Town pub group loses development director >>
 
Grand Union pubs hands out “free money” for customers >>
 


By Emma White

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