Harvester (restaurant)
Encyclopedia
Harvester Restaurants is a popular family farmhouse-style licensed restaurant chain with more than 170 outlets in the United Kingdom
.
, at the junction with the A239 near Morden Park
and the former Merton College
, in Surrey in 1983 by Courage (who had been owned by Imperial Group
since 1972).
In 1986, Courage was sold by Imperial Group to Elders IXL
, the Australian owner of Fosters
, when Imperial Group was bought by the Hanson Trust
.
In February 1988, it went into a joint venture with Courage, whereby THF leased 100 pubs from Courage, furnished as Harvester restaurants with Courage supplying the beer. THF placed some Travelodge
s next to its Harvester restaurants. On 17 July 1993, Forte's 80 Harvester restaurants were put up for sale. Most of these were in South East England
, and were part of Forte's Distinctive Restaurants division. Whitbread showed an interest in the chain, but thought the price (at least £100 million) was too high. In 1994, Forte put the chain up for sale for £130 million.
In February 1995, children under 14 were allowed into pubs (until 9pm), but Harvester restaurants were not legally classified as public houses, and had always accepted children.
In the early 1990s, Mick Quinn
met Gaz Coombes
whilst both were working at an Oxfordshire Harvester, and later formed the group Supergrass
.
, until 2003.
divested its hotel division, and the chain was taken over by the renamed company, Mitchells & Butlers plc, and had 127 outlets. By 2010 there were over 170 across the entire United Kingdom.
television and radio stations in July
2010. The advertising campaign was part of a general shift within Mitchells & Butlers plc to focus on businesses that were food led. As part of the marketing campaign, they also run "free Ice cream vouchers when you order main meal" campaign periodically
television show Rogue Restaurants and shown to be operating without regard to certain food hygiene regulations.
Often Harvesters are placed near an Innkeeper's Lodge
, also owned by M & B.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
History
Courage
The first Harvester opened was the George Inn on Epsom Road (A24) in MordenMorden
Morden is a district in the London Borough of Merton. It is located approximately South-southwest of central London between Merton Park , Mitcham , Sutton and Worcester Park .- Origin of name :...
, at the junction with the A239 near Morden Park
Morden Park
Morden Park is an area within the district of Morden in the London Borough of Merton, and includes the Park itself, an area of green space in an otherwise dense cluster of 1930s suburban housing....
and the former Merton College
Merton College (London)
Merton College was a further education college in Morden, a district in the London Borough of Merton in England.It formerly occupied a site on Central Road in the borough, which was sold to Barratt Homes, a housing developer....
, in Surrey in 1983 by Courage (who had been owned by Imperial Group
Imperial Tobacco
Imperial Tobacco is a global tobacco company headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom. It is the world’s fourth-largest cigarette company measured by market share , and the world's largest producer of cigars, fine-cut tobacco and tobacco papers...
since 1972).
In 1986, Courage was sold by Imperial Group to Elders IXL
Elders Limited
Elders Limited is an Australian based agribusiness company.It was founded in 1839 in South Australia by Alexander Lang Elder as a new arm of his family's Scottish based merchant and shipping business. Its core business was a trading company and commission agent for wool and other agricultural...
, the Australian owner of Fosters
Foster's Group
Foster's Group is a beer group with interests in brewing and soft drinks. Foster's Group is the brewer of the Foster's Lager. Foster's Group Limited is a publicly-listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange and is based in Melbourne, Victoria...
, when Imperial Group was bought by the Hanson Trust
Hanson plc
Hanson plc is a British based international building materials company, headquartered in Maidenhead. Traded on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index for many years, the company was acquired by a division of German rival Heidelberg Cement in August 2007.-History:Hanson...
.
Trust House Forte
In 1986 when Courage was sold, the Harvester chain was sold soon after to Trust House Forte.In February 1988, it went into a joint venture with Courage, whereby THF leased 100 pubs from Courage, furnished as Harvester restaurants with Courage supplying the beer. THF placed some Travelodge
Travelodge UK
Travelodge Hotels Limited is a private company operating in the hotels and hospitality industry throughout the United Kingdom. Branded simply as Travelodge or Travelodge UK, it is the second largest in the budget hotel sector and third biggest hotel chain in the UK by number of bedrooms...
s next to its Harvester restaurants. On 17 July 1993, Forte's 80 Harvester restaurants were put up for sale. Most of these were in South East England
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
, and were part of Forte's Distinctive Restaurants division. Whitbread showed an interest in the chain, but thought the price (at least £100 million) was too high. In 1994, Forte put the chain up for sale for £130 million.
In February 1995, children under 14 were allowed into pubs (until 9pm), but Harvester restaurants were not legally classified as public houses, and had always accepted children.
In the early 1990s, Mick Quinn
Mick Quinn
Mick Quinn is an English musician and singer-songwriter, best known as founding member of English rock band Supergrass. He formed the DB Band with bassist Paul Wilson, formerly of Shake Appeal in 2010 and released début EP "Stranger In The Alps" on the 17th September 2011...
met Gaz Coombes
Gaz Coombes
Gaz Coombes is an English musician and singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the English alternative rock band, Supergrass. He first entered the music scene aged sixteen as the lead singer of the band The Jennifers which featured Supergrass band mate Danny Goffey...
whilst both were working at an Oxfordshire Harvester, and later formed the group Supergrass
Supergrass
Supergrass was an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band consisted of brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes , Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey ....
.
Bass
On 21 July 1995, Bass bought the 78 Harvester restaurants for £165 million. Whitbread had offered £150 million. Most Harvesters were in the south-east, and Bass had plans to rebrand other restaurants (such as the former Innkeeper's Fayre) elsewhere in England as Harvesters. When Bass divested its brewing division in 2000, the chain was looked after by the renamed company, Six ContinentsSix Continents
Six Continents was a large British-based retail business which was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
, until 2003.
Mitchells & Butlers
On 15 April 2003, Six ContinentsSix Continents
Six Continents was a large British-based retail business which was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
divested its hotel division, and the chain was taken over by the renamed company, Mitchells & Butlers plc, and had 127 outlets. By 2010 there were over 170 across the entire United Kingdom.
2010 return to television and radio advertising
For the first time in 10 years , Harvester Restaurants spent nearly £20,000 on advertising on both United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television and radio stations in July
July
July is the seventh month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. It is, on average, the warmest month in most of the Northern hemisphere and the coldest month in much of the Southern hemisphere...
2010. The advertising campaign was part of a general shift within Mitchells & Butlers plc to focus on businesses that were food led. As part of the marketing campaign, they also run "free Ice cream vouchers when you order main meal" campaign periodically
Rogue restaurants controversy
On 31 July 2008 Harvester Restaurants were featured on the BBC OneBBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
television show Rogue Restaurants and shown to be operating without regard to certain food hygiene regulations.
Products
The chain specialises in flame grilled food, spit-roasted chicken and help yourself salad carts.Often Harvesters are placed near an Innkeeper's Lodge
Innkeeper's Lodge
Innkeeper's Lodge is a UK budget hotel chain that is owned by Mitchells & Butlers Group.-Overview:Innkeeper's Lodge have 91 locations across the UK. Some are new hotels, some pubs with rooms and others historic buildings....
, also owned by M & B.
See also
- Brewers FayreBrewers FayreBrewers Fayre is a chain of around 125 licensed family and casual dining pub restaurants in the United Kingdom, owned by Whitbread.They are known for serving traditional British pub food, including gammon and steak & ale pie which are among the most popular choices. Nearly all Brewers Fayres are...
, owned by WhitbreadWhitbreadWhitbread PLC is a global hotel, coffee shop and restaurant company headquartered in Dunstable, United Kingdom. Its largest division is Premier Inn, which is the largest hotel brand in the UK with around 580 hotels and over 40,000 rooms. Its Costa Coffee chain has around 1,600 stores across 25... - BeefeaterBeefeater (restaurant)Beefeater is a chain of pub restaurants in the United Kingdom, owned by Whitbread. There are currently 131 Beefeater restaurants in the UK.- History :...
, owned by Whitbread - Toby CarveryToby CarveryToby Carvery is a British carvery chain brand owned and operated by Mitchells and Butlers. The brand has been in operation for over 30 years. The chain is one of the most popular in the UK, serving 21 Million meals last year....
, also owned by M & B - List of restaurant chains