The Ferry

What The Ferry does

The Ferry is a single-site premium country pub and restaurant in Cookham, a historic village on the River Thames near Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK. It operates as a trading brand of Mitchells & Butlers Leisure Retail Limited and is one of 123 venues in the Premium Country Pubs Collection. The venue offers dine-in service built around chef-crafted British pub classics with daily-changing specials, Sunday roasts, weekday lunch and early evening set menus, and an extensive drinks programme including traditional ales, fine wines, champagne, and cocktails. The product is extended into private dining and events for 10–80 guests, click-and-collect takeaway, third-party delivery via Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat, a cross-venue Rewards Club accessible through a mobile app, and gift cards valid across the 123-venue network.

The underlying technology stack is conventional for a multi-site UK hospitality operator: an online table-booking system supporting seating preferences, dietary notes, and pre-payments; a mobile app on iOS and Android for bookings, loyalty, and ordering; a digital loyalty programme that issues 100 points per qualifying visit; a gift card platform operated by Blackhawk Network; and an OpenAI GPT-powered Virtual Assistant chatbot providing 24/7 guest support for queries about menus, hours, and bookings. No public APIs, proprietary ML models, or developer-facing platforms are exposed.

The Ferry's revenue model is transaction-based across multiple channels: dine-in food and beverage sales, takeaway and delivery, private events with tiered buffet and drinks packages (£15–£70 per person), and gift card sales (£5–£250). Pricing follows standard UK pub mechanics for the premium segment, with a 10% service charge on tables of 6+, deposits for large group bookings, and time-bound promotional pricing (e.g., set menus, Bottomless Bubbles). The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, supported by local SEO, Facebook and Instagram presence, an email/rewards channel, and operational partnerships with delivery aggregators. The customer base is broad and local, with families, social diners, and event hosts forming the primary segments.

Name

The Ferry

Legal name

Mitchells & Butlers Leisure Retail Limited

Website

https://theferry.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Ferry is a premium country pub in Cookham, Maidenhead, operated by Mitchells & Butlers Leisure Retail Limited as part of the Premium Country Pubs Collection. It serves chef-crafted British pub classics, Sunday roasts, and seasonal menus to local families, social diners, and private event hosts, with delivery, loyalty, and gift card services via its 123-venue network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Food & Beverage Sales: Core revenue from serving chef-crafted British pub classics, traditional ales, wines, champagne, and cocktails for dine-in customers
2. Takeaway & Delivery: Order for collection and delivery through third-party platforms (Deliveroo, Uber Eats) and direct website ordering for 'Dine at Home' service
3. Gift Cards: Digital and physical gift cards valid at all Premium Country Pubs and Mitchells & Butlers venues, sold online and in-venue with denominations from £5-£250
4. Private Events & Functions: Revenue from hosting private dining events, celebrations, and functions with custom menus, drinks packages, and event spaces accommodating groups from 10-80 guests

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Ferry is a premium country pub and restaurant serving chef-crafted British pub classics, traditional ales, wines, champagne and cocktails for dine-in, with supplemental services including private dining and event hosting for groups of 10-80, takeaway and delivery, and digital gift cards. It operates as part of the Premium Country Pubs Collection of 123 venues under Mitchells & Butlers Leisure Retail Limited.

Product overview

The Ferry is a premium country pub, bar, and restaurant operated by Mitchells & Butlers Leisure Retail Limited as part of the Premium Country Pubs Collection (123 venues). The offering is a unified restaurant service built around a core dine-in experience, supplemented by takeaway/delivery via Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat; private dining and events for up to 80 guests; and digital services including an online booking system, a loyalty Rewards Club, and a mobile app. Dining formats span lunch (Set Menu from £20), all-day dinner (Main Menu), Sunday roasts (from £23), Bottomless Bubbles (£35pp), and seasonal Festive and Summer menus. The product portfolio also includes gift cards, drinks packages, and buffet/canape catering for events. No separate SaaS platform or API product exists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dine-In Restaurant and Bar The Ferry's main restaurant service offering chef-crafted British pub classics, daily changing chef specials, hand-carved Sunday roasts with all the trimmings, and an extensive drinks menu featuring traditional ales, fine wines, champagne, and hand-crafted cocktails. Open Monday-Thursday 11am-11pm, Friday 11am-midnight, Saturday 9am-midnight, Sunday 9am-10:30pm.
• Private Dining and Events Private dining and event space hosting birthday parties, baby showers, business meetings, anniversaries, graduation celebrations, and wedding receptions. Accommodates groups from 10 to 80 guests with customisable buffet menus and drinks packages.
• Main Menu (All-Day Dining) All-day dining menu featuring British pub classics such as Pan-Seared Duck Breast, 21-day aged Ribeye Steak, Pie of the Day, and daily changing chef specials.
• Sunday Roast Menu Weekly Sunday roast offering featuring hand-carved roasts including British Half Roast Chicken, Roast Sirloin of Beef, Slow-Cooked Pork Belly, and a Sweet Potato & Chestnut Roast for vegetarians, all served with Yorkshire Pudding and bottomless gravy.
• Lunch and Early Evening Set Menu Weekday lunch and early evening menu available Monday to Friday 12-6pm. 2 courses from £20 or 3 courses from £25. Features dishes such as Severn & Wye Smoked Salmon Fillet and Heritage Tomato Tatin.
• Drinks Menu Extensive drinks menu including signature cocktails, fine wines, traditional ales, continental lagers, artisan spirits, champagne, and low/no-alcohol options. Features Sparkling Fridays with premium fizz at exclusive prices.
• Dine at Home (Takeaway and Delivery) Takeaway service allowing customers to order The Ferry's dishes for collection or home delivery. Orders can be placed for click-and-collect via the website or delivered through third-party partners Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat.
• Festive Menu (Christmas) Seasonal Christmas dining menus including Festive Set Menu (from £40.50), Festive Grazing Menu, Christmas Day Set Menu, and Boxing Day Set Menu. Available 18th November to 24th December.
• Gift Cards Digital and physical gift cards valid at any Premium Country Pubs venue (123 locations). Available in denominations from £5 to £250, valid for 24 months.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Premium Country Pubs CollectioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Ferry is a member of the Premium Country Pubs Collection, a curated group of 123 unique pubs. This partnership provides brand affiliation, shared loyalty programme (Rewards), cross-venue gift card acceptance, and marketing presence under the Premium Country Pubs umbrella brand owned by Mitchells & Butlers Leisure Retail Limited.
• DeliveroominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party delivery partnership for takeaway orders. Deliveroo provides last-mile delivery service to customers in the Maidenhead area who order The Ferry's food for home delivery.
• Uber EatsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party delivery partnership for takeaway orders. Uber Eats provides delivery service to customers ordering The Ferry's food for home delivery in the local area.
• B-Corp Certified SuppliersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with eco-conscious businesses including Discarded Spirits Co. (zero-waste spirit producer), Everleaf (B-Corp certified, 1% For The Planet member), and Sipsmith (B-Corp certified). These partnerships support sustainability commitments and conscious consumer offerings.
• Mitchells & Butlers Leisure Retail LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and operator of The Ferry. Registered in England and Wales (company number 1001181), based at 27 Fleet Street, Birmingham B3 1JP. Operates the Premium Country Pubs brand portfolio and provides centralised services including technology platforms, marketing, procurement, and operational support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Brunning & Price: Premium UK pub chain operating country pubs and inns with chef-crafted menus, wine selections, and seasonal offerings. Closely comparable to The Ferry in concept, format, and target customer.
• Peach Pubs: Premium UK pub group of approximately 20 pubs in the South East, offering chef-driven menus, rooms, and event spaces. Directly comparable as a premium country pub operator in the same geography.
• Chef & Brewer: Mitchells & Butlers' premium country pub collection brand offering traditional pub dining in historic buildings. Near-direct comparable given the shared parent and overlapping customer segments.
• Ember Inns: UK premium pub-restaurant chain focused on food-led dining and family occasions. Comparable on menu positioning, family-friendly format, and Sunday roast-led proposition.

Broad incumbents

• Fuller Smith & Turner: Historic UK brewer and pub operator with over 380 managed and tenanted pubs, including premium county-style pubs. Comparable product category and customer base, though at much larger scale.
• Young's Pubs: London-focused pub and brewery operator with premium pubs across the South East. Overlaps with The Ferry on premium pub dining, Sunday roasts, and event hosting.
• Greene King: One of the UK's largest pub retailers and brewers, operating thousands of pubs across multiple formats including premium dining destinations. Comparable end-customer offering at significant scale.
• Harvester: Sister brand under Mitchells & Butlers, offering family-focused casual dining pubs across the UK. Useful peer for understanding the parent group's broader strategy and competitive positioning.
• Toby Carvery: Mitchells & Butlers' roast-focused pub chain. Highly comparable on the Sunday roast and family dining value proposition, though positioned at a lower price point than The Ferry.
• Sizzling Pubs: Mitchells & Butlers' community pub brand. Less premium than The Ferry but provides context for how the parent addresses different market segments within UK pub dining.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheFerryCookham
• Instagraminstagram.com/theferry_cookham

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The Ferry