Growing a multi site pub business with Greene King Pub Partners
The Futurist, Liverpool
Highlights:
- From family pub roots to operating five successful pubs in partnership with Greene King Pub Partners
- Over £1 million invested together across three major refurbishments
- A collaborative relationship built on trust, shared ideas and strong business support.
The Challenge
Marc has worked in pubs all his life, starting out washing pots in his family’s business before progressing to become a multiple operator. Alongside his wife Jess — who made the leap from an office career into hospitality — the pair have built a growing pub portfolio in partnership with Greene King Pub Partners.
However, their journey hasn’t always been straightforward. Having worked with other pub companies in the past, Marc admits they sometimes felt judged on their age and experience.
“We always had a bit of an age problem,” Marc explains. “People looked at us and thought we were too young. ”Taking on The Futurist, a high-profile town centre pub in the heart of Liverpool, also presented a fresh challenge. “We had never run a town centre pub before,” says Marc. “So, it was very new for us. It opened our eyes.”
For Jess, moving from an office environment into hospitality brought its own adjustments. “It does have its ups and downs,” she says, “but it’s amazing — I wouldn’t go back.”
The Solution
What made the difference was the strength of the partnership. From the outset, Marc and Jess felt valued and supported.
“We definitely feel like we’re in it together, with Greene King” says Marc. “We feel valued.”
The relationship with their Business Development Manager (BDM) has been central to their success. “If you haven’t got the right BDM then it can be make or break,” Jess explains.
Through open conversations, shared ideas and consistent business support, they’ve been able to grow confidently. “Whenever we sit down, there’s always something new,” says Jess. “There’s always that support there — have you tried this? Should we look at that? ”Together, they’ve delivered three major capex projects, with over £1million of joint investment helping to transform their pubs and strengthen their local trade.
The Result
Today, Marc and Jess operate five pubs in partnership with Greene King Pub Partners — including the recently refurbished Futurist. The mutual trust built over time has allowed them to shape schemes collaboratively.
“They listen to us, and we listen to them,” says Marc. “They take our opinion on board with the schemes.”
For Jess, that collaborative approach sets Greene King apart. “It’s being able to put your own ideas in and create something everyone else can enjoy — and you get to enjoy it yourself too.”
By combining investment, strong business support and a genuine partnership approach, Marc and Jess continue to thrive — growing their estate and building successful pubs at the heart of their communities.
Ready to run your own pub business?
Discover current opportunities and see how Greene King Pub Partners can support your journey.
Full transcript:
Marc has been working in pubs all his life. From washing the pots as a teenager in the family business to becoming a multiple operator. His wife Jess left her office job so they could work together and now they are thriving - responsible for five pubs in partnership with Green King Pub Partners.
We caught up with them at one of their recently refurbished pubs, The Futurist, located right at the heart of Liverpool's vibrant city centre.
Marc – “We definitely feel like you're in it together, don't you. To be fair we feel like some of the companies we've worked with before Greene King, we always had a bit of an age problem. People look at us and go, you come across quite young, but it was nice. It's never been like that with Greene King to be fair. We feel valued.”
Jess – “But again I think that's down to the relationship that Greene King offer us and we offer Greene King - that it just works.”
Marc – “It's been quite nice to grow with Greene King, you know. We’ve got a good understanding.”
Jess - Whenever we sit down, there's always something new isn't there? There are always new ideas.”
Marc – “Yes, we bounce ideas off each other.”
Jess – “There’s always that support there - well have you tried this or should we look at this or let's see if we can do this to try and help improve that.”
Marc – “It is an important relationship, it really is.”
Jess – “If you haven't got the right BDM then it can be make or break.”
Marc – “The vision of what you see before you is a bit of both to be fair. He listened to us; we listen to him. We had never done a town centre pub.”
Jess – “So it was very new for us.”
Marc – “We had our eyes opened, didn't we. After doing the three capex we’ve done now, we like to think Greene King must trust us a little bit at least because we're into over a million pound with them and it's nice to sort of be listened to as well. They do take our opinion on board with the schemes.”
Jess – “Which we we've not had with a lot of the other companies that we worked with. They are above and beyond. It’s being able to put your own ideas and creating something that everyone else can enjoy, and you get to enjoy it yourself.”
Jess - “Working in an office and then coming into this, it is so different and it does have its ups and downs, I'm not going to lie, but it is amazing and I wouldn't go back to working an office again.”