Punch, the independent pub operator, is investing over £1.1m in its own Champs pub concept this year. The sports themed brand is undergoing a revamp and has been launched at two new venues so far this year, Loughborough and Sheffield.
Loughborough recently received a £388k Champs revamp and Champs Sheffield was overhauled following a £700k investment. Sheffield’s site boasts nine TV screens showing all key sporting events throughout the year. It also has pool, foosball and shuffleboard plus gaming booths for a FIFA contest. Champ’s food menu includes burgers, dirty fries and Barrel & Stone stone-baked pizzas.
The company’s offices in Burton on Trent also has a newly opened Champs zone showcasing the concept for Publicans considering taking on a Champs pub with Punch. The area includes soft furnishings, live sports coverage and multi-media systems, pool table and features fixtures and fittings you can expect to see in a Champs pub.
Speaking about the Champs rollout, CEO for Punch, Clive Chesser said, “We are investing over £1.1m in Champs this year. Showcasing our exciting sports concept in Burton is great for our internal teams and current and potential Publicans. Our two new 2019 generation Champs demonstrate the exciting opportunities that this sports-pub brand provides for both the local community and for current and future Publicans”.
Punch currently has six Champs in its estate and will be growing this number over the next three years. The sites can be operated as a tenanted or retail managed option. It has started to include experiential zones in its new investments including interactive play station areas plus state-of-the- art AV systems to provide the very best sports viewing experience. The company is investing £30m in its pub estate this year which includes the investment in Champs.