Glasgow based bar and restaurant group Kained Holdings has joined forces with Greene King to form The Nomad Group Ltd in a deal marking the second time ever the pub retailer has entered in to a 50/50 partnership with another operator.
Flagship venue Rogue is set to open in the former Drouthy Neebors site in St Andrews on April 6. The group has invested six figures in the outlet which will feature a new bar, full 60 cover restaurant seating, a private dining room and the ‘Still Room’ which will produce Felons gin in full view of customers. The opening will create 18 new jobs in the town.
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Founded in 2007, Kained Holdings operates seven outlets across Glasgow and Edinburgh including Porter & Rye, Lebowskis and The Finnieston. The Greene King estate numbers some 3,000 pubs UK wide. In addition to the opening of Rogue, The Nomad Group will supply Felons gin to 50 additional Greene King outlets across the UK and all Kained Holdings venues from launch, with the ambition to steadily increase distribution throughout 2018.
Graham Suttle, director of Kained Holdings, said: “We’re making the most of a unique space, not dissimilar to The Finnieston, with low slung ceilings and plenty of opportunity for intelligent use of space. This is a dream project for us and we’re delighted with how the venue is looking – definitely our best looking venue to date.”
“There’s a plethora of incredible local suppliers with whom we’re delighted to be working with for our outstanding produce, which we will be innovating as much as possible to get the best out of everything. We can’t wait to get going and to show St Andrews what an amazing bar and restaurant Rogue is.”
Rogue will specialise in Scottish Gin and Scotch Whisky – with Felons gin as the house pour – offering a wide selection of cocktails, gin and tonic serves and an innovative wine list. Local produce provides the foundation of the food menu with Minick’s of St Andrews, David Lowrie in St Monans and Raith Fruit appointed to supply meat, fish and fresh produce. Fraser Barrett joins as head distiller from the Glasgow Distillery and David Lilley joins as head chef bringing a wealth of experience to the role. The 28-year-old has learned from the country’s leading chefs including Geoffrey Smeddle and David Littlewood.
Greene King’s partnership with Kained follows their collaboration with chef Tom Kerridge to launch the Butcher’s Tap in Buckinghamshire last year. Following the St Andrews flagship, the company hopes to open additional Rogue venues throughout the UK.
John Forrest, managing director of Greene King Pub Partners, said: “We’re delighted to help bring a fantastic new venue to the heart of St Andrews. Working with Kained Holdings over the years has been an excellent experience and it’s exciting to be at a stage now where we can embark on this impressive project together.
“Kained has a great portfolio of bars and restaurants in Scotland with Rogue promising to be a special addition for St Andrews and I hope people come from far and wide to see what the team has to offer. I’m delighted Greene King has been able to make a six-figure investment to support our second joint venture initiative.”
