EI Group Plc

What EI Group Plc does

EI Group Plc, operating under the Stonegate Group brand, is the largest pub company in the UK with a portfolio of more than 4,500 sites. Originally formed in 2010 with 333 pubs, it has scaled to its current footprint through 12 major acquisitions. Operations span five distinct business lines: the Managed Estate (1,289 directly operated pubs, bars, country inns and late-night venues including brands such as Be at One and Slug & Lettuce), an Operator-Led Managed Estate under Craft Union Pub Company, Joint Ventures with experienced pub operators, Pub Partners (over 3,000 leased and tenanted pubs supporting independent publicans), and a Commercial Properties division leasing free-of-tie assets to third parties. The company is headquartered in Solihull, West Midlands, employs thousands of staff across its head office and managed venues, and operates in England and Wales.

Revenue is generated through four principal streams: (1) direct food, beverage and entertainment sales from managed venues; (2) recurring rental income from 3,000+ leased and tenanted publicans under the Pub Partners model; (3) profit-sharing income from joint venture partnerships with operators; and (4) commercial property rent from free-of-tie assets leased to third-party hospitality operators. The pricing model varies by format — transaction-driven in managed venues, recurring subscription-like rental in Pub Partners, and commercial property terms in the property division. Customer segments are diverse and include community pub patrons, urban bar and cocktail customers, late-night entertainment audiences, independent publicans seeking brand backing, and third-party pub and restaurant operators leasing free-of-tie assets.

The company was historically a publicly listed entity (EI Group Plc on the LSE) before being restructured and now operates privately as Stonegate Group. Graham Edward Tuppen is identified as founder and Robert Walker as Chairman. Active press signals — a World Cup bookings surge and 800,000+ drinks sold during an England match — together with ongoing multi-site refurbishments indicate current commercial momentum and continuing capital reinvestment in the estate.

Name

EI Group Plc

Legal name

Stonegate Group

Website

https://eigroupplc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

EI Group Plc, operating as Stonegate Group, is the largest pub company in the UK, operating over 4,500 sites across five business lines: managed venues, leased and tenanted pubs, operator-led managed estates, joint ventures, and commercial property leasing, serving consumers, publicans, and third-party operators across England and Wales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pub and Hospitality Operations

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532), Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospitality (Hotels & Resorts) Asset Management (BPAJAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hospitality (Hotel) Property Management (BPAJAGAG)

Keywords

• Pub operations
• Leased and tenanted pubs
• Managed pub estate
• Commercial property leasing
• Hospitality venues

Headquarters

HQ city

Solihull

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Managed Estate Operations: Direct operation of pubs, bars, and nightclubs generating revenue from food, beverage, and entertainment sales. The managed estate includes community pubs, high-street bars, country inns, and late-night venues.
2. Leased and Tenanted Pubs (Pub Partners): Over 3,000 pubs leased or tenanted to independent publicans who pay rent and operate their own businesses under the company's brand umbrella. Revenue generated from rental income.
3. Joint Venture Pubs: Collaborative partnerships with experienced pub operators where the company shares investment and profits in differentiated retail propositions.
4. Commercial Property Leasing: Portfolio of free of tie assets leased to third parties including bars, pubs, and food led destinations on commercial property terms.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

EI Group Plc, operating as Stonegate Group, is the largest pub company in the UK with a portfolio of over 4,500 sites. It operates five business lines: directly managed pubs, bars and nightclubs (1,289 venues); an operator-led managed estate through Craft Union Pub Company; joint ventures with experienced pub operators; a leased and tenanted estate (Pub Partners) of over 3,000 pubs rented to independent publicans; and commercial properties leased to third-party operators.

Product overview

Stonegate Group operates as a pub company with a portfolio of over 4,500 sites. The company runs five distinct business lines: (1) Managed Estate for directly operated community pubs, high-street bars, country inns and late-night venues; (2) Operator Led Managed Estate through Craft Union Pub Company for partnered pub operators; (3) Joint Ventures with external operators for differentiated retail; (4) Pub Partners for the leased and tenanted estate of 3,000+ pubs; and (5) Commercial Properties for free of tie assets leased to third parties. The portfolio spans Leased & Tenanted to Managed operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Managed Estate Directly operated pubs, bars and nightclubs including community pubs, high-street bars, country inns and late-night venues, employing the company's own staff to deliver food, beverage and entertainment offerings to UK consumers.
• Operator Led Managed Estate (Craft Union Pub Company) Working with independent pub operators through the Craft Union Pub Company to run pubs serving local communities across England and Wales, providing operators with brand backing, business support and corporate infrastructure.
• Joint Ventures Collaborative partnerships with experienced pub operators combining investment and industry expertise to develop differentiated retail propositions at selected sites across the UK.
• Pub Partners (Leased and Tenanted Estate) Leased and tenanted estate of over 3,000 pubs offered to independent publicans who run their own businesses under the company's brand umbrella, paying rent and receiving business support and brand backing.
• Commercial Properties Portfolio of free of tie commercial property assets including bars, pubs and food-led destinations in town centre and urban areas, leased to third parties including household names and independent pub and restaurant operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800,000 drinks sold during England match against DR Congo
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mitchells & Butlers: Mitchells & Butlers is one of the largest UK pub and restaurant operators with around 1,700 sites under brands like All Bar One, Toby Carvery, and Harvester. Directly comparable to Stonegate's managed estate and leased/tenanted structure, operating at similar scale in the same UK market.
• Admiral Taverns: Admiral Taverns operates approximately 1,000 leased and tenanted pubs across the UK. Direct peer to Stonegate's Pub Partners division, focused on supporting independent publicans through leased and tenanted arrangements.
• JD Wetherspoon: JD Wetherspoon operates around 800 directly-managed pubs across the UK. Comparable as a large-scale UK pub operator focused on food-led and community formats, competing directly with Stonegate's managed estate venues for consumer spend.
• Fuller, Smith & Turner: Fuller's operates a portfolio of approximately 380 managed and tenanted pubs and hotels across the UK. Comparable UK pub company with similar brand heritage and managed/tenanted mix, though smaller in scale than Stonegate.
• Punch Pubs & Co: Punch Pubs & Co operates around 1,300 leased, tenanted, and managed pubs across the UK. Direct peer comparable to Stonegate's Pub Partners estate, with similar focus on leased and tenanted operations for independent publicans.
• Greene King (C&C Group): Greene King, now part of C&C Group, operates around 2,600 pubs across the UK including managed, tenanted, and franchised formats. Highly comparable to Stonegate as one of the largest UK pub estates with a similar leased/tenanted and managed dual structure.
• Marston's: Marston's operates around 1,400 pubs in the UK through a managed and tenanted estate. Direct peer to Stonegate with overlapping business model structure, including both managed pubs and a substantial leased/tenanted portfolio serving similar consumers.
• Young's: Young's operates a portfolio of approximately 220 managed and tenanted pubs and hotels across the UK. Comparable as a UK pub company with a similar mix of managed venues and leased/tenanted operations, though at smaller scale than Stonegate.
• Heineken UK (Star Pubs & Bars): Star Pubs & Bars, part of Heineken UK, operates around 2,400 leased and tenanted pubs across the UK. Direct peer to Stonegate's Pub Partners estate as one of the largest leased/tenanted pub portfolios, with the additional Heineken brewing parent providing integrated supply.

Emerging players

• NewRiver REIT: NewRiver REIT is a UK pub-focused real estate investment trust that owns and leases out approximately 1,300 pubs to operators. Comparable to Stonegate's Commercial Properties division as a property-focused participant in the UK pub sector with leased asset exposure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eigroupplc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EI Group Plc