A PUB chain is toasting a doubling in size less than a year after being launched.
Valley Inns was set up by Fred and Jean Birt as a chain of country inns across Lancashire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
It began with four pubs and has recently acquired and refurbished a further four including the Crown Hotel at Rawtenstall. Fred, a founder of the Nelson based Devonshire Pub Company, believes the support he has had from Yorkshire Bank has been crucial to the firm's rapid growth.
"They have been there at every step of the company's development. Securing a prime site is crucial for success in this business and gaining a quick financiing decision is vital."
The Colne-based firm is now planning to expand to 20 pubs over the next three years.
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