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Sean Reddington, Founder of The Reddington Pub Company

Running a pub is not easy in today’ s climate. According to figures from the British Beer & Pub Association, nearly 300 pubs closed across England and Wales in 2024. But Sean Reddington, Founder of The Reddington Pub Company, is bucking that trend with plans to open two new venues this year. Reddington speaks to Intelligent SME. tech about what he thinks makes a good pub, his approach to hiring and building customer loyalty in difficult times.

Tell me more about how you founded The Reddington Pub Company, and what gap in the market did you see?

My journey into the pub game wasn’ t driven by fancy spreadsheets or market research, but by a genuine love for the proper, modern day boozer. I felt there was a growing gap between the identikit chains and the truly authentic, community-focused pubs that were becoming rare.

At the same time, I felt there was too much focus on chasing awards and fine dining experiences that don’ t always deliver real value for money. I wanted to create something that sat in the space between mid-range and Michelin, something more accessible, but still with great food and a memorable experience.

The Reddington Pub Company began with The Old Vol in Caythorpe [ in Lincolnshire in England ]. It needed some serious TLC, but I immediately recognised its potential to become a cracking village hub with a modern twist. Since then, we’ ve grown the business to include The Reindeer in Hoveringham and The Anchor in Gunthorpe [ both Nottinghamshire ], each pub with its own identity, but all built around the same core values.

Our vision was simple: offer quality food and drink, create a relaxed and inviting atmosphere and become an integral part of the local community.

We focused on modern British dishes with unique customer experiences. It’ s grown from there, always with that core idea of community

44 Intelligent SME. tech