A hospitality veteran thriving in partnership with Belhaven Pub Partners

 Highlights:

• Nearly 50 years of hospitality experience and this is Ferrier’s first time working with a pub company.
• A collaborative vision delivered in partnership with Belhaven Pub Partners
• Proactive business support and shared investment driving local trade success

The Challenge

With almost five decades in the hospitality industry, Ferrier Richardson has built a career running high-profile restaurants around the world. However, stepping into the pub sector — and working with a pub company for the first time — marked a new chapter.

At The East End Fox in Glasgow, Ferrier brought his strong food background and deep local knowledge to the table. While his experience was extensive, transitioning into a partnership model required alignment, trust and a shared vision.

“It’s the first time I’ve actually worked with a pub company,” Ferrier explains. “I think the reason they chose me was because of my food background and the strength of it, and also my local knowledge — and that’s what brought us together.”

For Ferrier, success depended on ensuring the pub could deliver a great product while building sustainable local trade in a competitive market.

The Solution

The foundation of that success has been collaboration. From the outset, Ferrier worked closely with his Business Development Manager, Sandra, to shape a clear strategy.

“I explained to her what I thought my vision was,” he says. “The great thing was it was a combination of both of us. It was a collaboration of like-minded individuals.”

That partnership approach has defined the journey. “At no time was there any friction. We’re on the same page. We know exactly what we’re trying to achieve.”

Rather than a hands-off arrangement, Ferrier highlights the proactive business support provided by Greene King / Belhaven Pub Partners. “They don’t wait for a disaster to happen. They’re bringing ideas to the table all the time. There’s support all the way down the line.”

From strategic input to ongoing operational guidance, the relationship has extended beyond formal meetings. “When we went to the Dram Awards, Sandra was part of our table because we feel she’s part of our team.”

With the right level of investment and a shared commitment to excellence, the partnership has focused on continually refining the offer and strengthening the pub’s position within the community.

The Result

Today, The East End Fox stands as a testament to what genuine collaboration can achieve. Ferrier is clear about the impact of the partnership.

“Never once have I felt they’ve short-changed me in any shape or form. There’s a genuine collaboration to make sure this is the best it can be.”

For Ferrier, the experience has exceeded expectations. “What they promise, they’ve over delivered.”

Through shared vision, proactive business support and a commitment to quality, Ferrier has successfully translated his fine dining pedigree into a thriving pub business — building strong local trade and delivering a standout product in Glasgow.

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Full transcript:

A highly acclaimed veteran of the hospitality industry, Ferrier Richardson's experience of running high-profile restaurants has not only taken him around the world but has paved the way for his current venture.

When we met up with him at his pub, The East End Fox in Glasgow, he shared his experience of working in partnership with Belhaven Pub Partners.

Ferrier – “I've been in this industry for the best part of 50 years. It's the first time I've actually worked with a pub company at all and I think the reason that they chose me was because of my food background and the strength of it, and also my local knowledge and that's what brought us together.”

“Sandra, who's the business development manager for Greene King / Belhaven, and I sat down and I had a chart that I explained to her what I thought my vision was. I think the great thing was it was a combination of both of us – it was a collaboration of like-minded individuals and that's what I loved about the whole thing.”

“The whole thing gelled really really well and at no time was there any friction at all because I think I found a soulmate in Sandra in that the both of us are on the same page. We know exactly what we're trying to achieve with the business - we want to achieve a great product but I've certainly landed on my feet with the person I'm dealing with at Greene King/Belhaven.”

“We’ve been through this journey together and even recently when we went to the Dram awards, Sandra was part of our table because we feel that she's part of our team. And I feel that's the way we've had it with Greene King/Belhaven as well.”

“Never once have I felt they’ve short-changed me in any shape or form. I just feel that there's a genuine collaboration to make sure that this is the best that can be.”

“They're proactive - they don't wait on disasters happening or anything like that. They're bringing ideas to the table all the time and if you're smart enough, you'll take it. You'll take it on board and you'll utilise it. There’s support all the way down the line. So, it's not ‘here's a set of keys, get on with it.’ There is support all the way. What they promise they've over delivered and I'm a great believer in that, you know, and I would say that that's what Greene King/Belhaven have done for me.”