Yates's

Yates is an English pub chain. It was founded as Yates's Wine Lodge in Oldham, Lancashire by Peter and Simon Yates in 1884.[1]

Yates
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryHospitality
Founded1884
FounderPeter and Simon Yates
Headquarters
Porter Tun House, 500 Capability Green, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 3LS
Number of locations
37
Area served
UK
ParentYates Group plc (1986–2004)
Laurel Pub Company (2004–11)
Stonegate Pub Company (2011–)
SubsidiariesHa! Ha! Bar & Canteen (former)
WebsiteYates

History
Yates Wine Lodge, High Street, in Oldham (1927)
Yates's, St James's Street, Burnley

Yates is Britain's oldest pub chain.[2] Its motto was moderation is true temperance.[3] The founders, brothers Peter and Simon Yates were from Preston. Peter (who lived from April 22, 1854–1944) was sent to Spain to learn about wine. Simon went to the US to learn about business methods.

The first Yates Wine Lodge opened in Oldham in 1884.[2]

Ownership

Public company

On July 23, 1994, Yates became a public company owned by the Yates Group PLC (Yates Brothers Wine Lodges PLC). The Yates Group also owned Ha! Ha! Bar & Canteen and operated pubs under the Blob Shop and Addison's name. In the late 1990s, its share price rose to reach a high of 550p in 1998.

In June 2001, the Yates Group entered takeover talks with Luminar Group. In July 2001, it withdrew from takeover talks and saying it would instead sell off 25 of its pubs, later putting 18 of them up for sale. On November 1, 2001, the Yates Group sold eight pubs to Morrells for £4 million, with four being in Grantham, Slough, Solihull and Tunbridge Wells.

In October 2003, Yates sold its Aussie White fortified brand to Halewood International for £1 million.[4]

Management buyout

In June 2004, when 30% of the company was owned by the Dickson and Yates family, the Yates Group had a management buyout offer (MBO) funded by GI Partners.[5] At the time, the company was valued at £98.4 million (140p a share) and employed 4,000 people. While GI Partners only received 16% of acceptances from shareholders (not the 90% it was looking for), the bid proceeded in October 2004.

Takeover by Laurel Pub Company

By 2005, the Yates Group had grown to 125 Yates pubs and 25 Ha! Ha! bars. In April 2005, the company was approached by the Tchenguiz-owned Laurel Pub Company and a £200-million merger was completed on May 20, 2005. A few weeks later, Laurel bought many of the sites belonging to the bankrupt SFI Group PLC, who owned Slug and Lettuce.

Administration

On 27 March 2008, Laurel was put into administration.[6]

Takeover by Stonegate Pub company

In 2011 European private equity firm TDR capital announced the merger between pub companies Stonegate and Town & City[7]

Business

There are still more than 70 Yates pubs or bars in the UK, although there is no longer one in Oldham.[8] The site of the original Yates Wine Lodge is now a McDonald's[9] and is marked by a plaque on Oldham High Street. Some Yates have been converted to Slug and Lettuce pubs in recent years.

Yates Australian White continues to be made by Halewood International and is sold in 35-centilitre, 70-centilitre and 1.5-litre containers.[10]

References
  1. Anon (1996). Bygone Oldham. True North Publishing. ISBN 1-900463-25-3.
  2. Connor, John (2014). The inns and alehouses of Stafford: Through the North Gate. Kibworth Beauchamp: Troubador Publishing Ltd. p. 124. ISBN 9781783064250. OCLC 879400627.
  3. "More to Yates's Wine Lodges than just champagne on draught". TheGuardian.com. 13 June 1977. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  4. "Yates in £1m wine deal". morningadvertiser.co.uk.
  5. "Yates agrees to management buyout". 9 June 2004 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  6. Laurel Pubs bought by Tchenguiz-backed companies Yahoo! Finance
  7. restaurantonline.co.uk (22 June 2011). "Stonegate and Town & City pub companies merge". restaurantonline.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  8. "More about Yates's, your local bar restaurant". Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  9. "Yates' call time on brand name". Manchester Evening News. 19 June 2005. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  10. "Brands | Halewood International". Archived from the original on 2 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
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