I'll drink to that: £4.5m FRB boost

COLIN DRURY

LEISURE sector building and refurbishment contractor Medlock FRB is toasting a bumper start to 2017 after winning projects worth a total of £4.5million at pubs and restaurants across the North West and Yorkshire.

Medlock has begun new-build schemes for Greene King's Farmhouse Inn chain at the Logistics North business hub in Over Hulton, near Bolton, and at Hessle in Hull, near the Humber Bridge.

The Oldham firm is also on-site in Leeds city centre, where it is converting a former 5,500 sq ft venue restaurant into a new Manahatta Bar for ARC Inspirations.

In addition, Medlock has begun the fit-outs of All Bar One venues for Mitchells & Butlers in Chester and Harrogate, and is refurbishing the Vale Royal Abbey Arms at Oakmere, near Northwich, Cheshire, for JW Lees and The Roebuck at Urmston, Manchester, for Joseph Holt.

Colin Drury, Medlock finance director, said: "We are thrilled to hit the ground running in 2017, with £4.5million of construction and fit-out projects in the leisure sector.

"The repeat business for existing customers is a vote of confidence in our ability to deliver fast-track projects to a high quality.

"It shows the sector remains buoyant this year following excellent trading results for the Christmas period.

"With a strong pipeline of further opportunities, we are confident that 2017 will be another year of steady progress for the business."

Medlock posted record annual revenues of £25million for 2015 and expects to report strong figures for its most recent full year.

The company is benefitting from the UK's casual dining boom. Its client base in this sector includes national companies such as Casual Dining Group, JD Wetherspoon, All Bar One, Pizza Express, Miller & Carter and Bella Italia, as well as regional hospitality operators.

Medlock FRB operates throughout the UK, carrying out projects ranging in value from £10,000 to £3million. The firm has a 20,000 sq ft manufacturing site to make joinery, metalwork and glass products for clients. It is owned by its management team and employs more than 60 staff.