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Varsity (pub chain)

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Varsity
Company typeBrand
IndustryHospitality
Foundedc.1997
FounderWolverhampton & Dudley
Headquarters500 Capability Green, Luton
Area served
England and Wales
Products23 student themed pubs
OwnerStonegate Pub Company (2013–)
Wolverhampton & Dudley (c.1997–2001)
WebsiteStonegate 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

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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

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Wolverhampton and Dudley

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Varsity was founded by Wolverhampton & Dudley.

Barracuda Group

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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]

A former Varsity at Derry's Cross in Plymouth before its closure in 2013

In October 2012, Barracuda was renamed The Bramwell Pub Company.[5]

The Stonegate Pub Company

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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

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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

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North West England

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  • Bolton, Churchgate
  • Church Street, Preston

North East England

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  • Durham
Varsity in Leeds

Yorkshire and the Humber

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East Midlands

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Varsity in Wolverhampton

West Midlands

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South West England

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Varsity in Southampton

South East England

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Wales

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Varsity, Coventry | Stonegate Corporate Site". www.stonegatepubs.com. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Wayback Machine has not archived that URL". Retrieved 27 March 2023.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Varsity Bars Room Hire".
  5. ^ "Barracuda restructures, becomes Bramwell Pub Co". 30 September 2012.
  6. ^ "Stonegate rescue some of Bramwell's Pubs". The Publicans Guide.
  7. ^ "Barracuda's Varsity bars target fresher". 27 August 2009.
  8. ^ "Sunderland Nightlife".
  9. ^ "Sheffield pub guide".
  10. ^ "Varsity - Sheffield South Yorkshire". www.pub-explorer.com.
  11. ^ "Lincoln".
  12. ^ "Varsity Warwick - Westwood Heath Coventry West Midlands". www.pub-explorer.com.
  13. ^ "Varsity - Southend on Sea Essex". www.pub-explorer.com.
  14. ^ "Pub Rooms Southend".
  15. ^ Cardiff pubs
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News items

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