The lead site was the Hudson in Romsey, taken from £6,000 of net turnover a week to in excess of £30,000. The group then expanded, acquiring the Dolphin in Hursley on a tenancy at will. A strong business with a genuine community around it, though not without its own challenges. When the rent review came round with the landlord, the numbers no longer worked, so the site was sold on with the assets and goodwill, all of which were owned inside the business.
The Cricketers Inn in Alresford was taken on a tenancy at will to test the market and the concept. Alresford is a beautiful and affluent area, and the standard of pubs there is second to none, with genuinely exceptional food across the competing venues. The pub was tied and the landlord was unwilling to untie it, which made the commercial case difficult. A decision was made on time versus effort, and the site was not pursued.
Henderson Pub Co was subsequently wound down, with all assets sold on at a profit. The pubs were built, scaled and passed on to operators who continue to run them today. The lasting value was the impact on those local communities, and the people and teams met along the way.