Varsity (pub chain)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Founded | c.1997 |
| Founder | Wolverhampton & Dudley |
| Headquarters | Lunar House, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Bucks, SL7 1LW |
Area served | England and Wales |
| Products | 23 student themed pubs |
| Owner | Barracuda Group (2001–) Wolverhampton & Dudley (c.1997–2001) |
| Website | Varsity Bars |
Varsity is a student-focused pub chain operating in the United Kingdom. The name originates from annual university sports competitions.
History
The chain began in the mid-1990s. Its main competitor was Scream Pubs. Varsity was more sports-orientated than It's A Scream.
Varsity Wolverhampton – the first varsity bar in the chain – will shut its doors in June 2012 after The University of Wolverhampton made a successful bid to Barracuda Group to purchase the building.
Ownership
Wolverhampton & Dudley
Varsity was founded by Wolverhampton & Dudley. It also had the Poacher's Pocket brand, and the Milestone Restaurants chain.
Barracuda Group
The Barracuda Group was formed in July 2000 by PPM Ventures, a private equity company that became Silverfleet Capital.
In September 2001 Barracuda Group bought fifty pubs from Wolverhampton & Dudley for £37.25 million, which included the twenty two pubs of the Varsity chain.[1]
In June 2005, the Barracuda Group was sold for £262 million to Charterhouse Capital Partners. In August 2006 there were thirty six Varsity bars.[2]
Operation
It operates the V Card, one of the first loyalty cards, which allows a cheaper price for some drinks, and allows better offers on some of the food deals.[3]
The website is now conducted all through Facebook. It serves food most of the day, concentrating on bowls of chips with dips, and a range of hot baguettes with chips.
Estate
North West England
- Longsight, Manchester, near the Elizabeth Gaskell campus of Manchester Metropolitan University
North East England
- Sunderland, near the University of Sunderland, off the A1231[4]
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Yorkshire and the Humber
- Huddersfield
- Leeds
- Sheffield, on West Street, on the Supertram near the University of Sheffield (science and engineering departments)[5][6]
East Midlands
- Leicester – two, on Friar Lane in the city centre, and London Road (A6) towards the University of Leicester
- Lincoln[7]
- Loughborough
West Midlands
- Warwick, off the A429, next to the Warwick Medical School at Gibbet Hill[8]
- Wolverhampton, at the University of Wolverhampton
South West England
- Gloucester
South East England
Wales
- Aberystwyth
- Bangor, near Bangor University
- Cardiff, near Cardiff University[11]
- Roath (Cardiff), off the A469 next to the railway (Rhymney Line)
- Swansea