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PRIVACY
Economic Development

New future for Summer Row bars after fresh investment

Founder and managing director leaves owner of Mechu, Fleet Street Kitchen and  Après as new faces and capital brought in to spearhead next chapter of city bar group

Mechu in Summer Row is among the venues set to benefit from new investment

A group of city centre bars which appeared look set for a new chapter after securing investment.

Town and Country Inns, which operates Mechu, Fleet Street Kitchen and Après in Summer Row, said in May it had suffered a £400,000 drop in revenue as a result of roadworks connected to the

Bosses at the firm have now announced plans to open one of the city's first private members' clubs and launch new venues and unveiled a new-look board of directors which has seen the founder leave the group.

The company said it had secured a new injection of capital from an unnamed investor which would enable it to launch a roll-out of the Fleet Street Kitchen brand at new venues in the West Midlands, Manchester and London.

It is also aiming to launch an entirely new brand for Birmingham in association with Après which also has sister venues in Solihull, Lichfield, Mere Green and Cheltenham.

There are plans to convert the basement area of Fleet Street Kitchen into a private club for corporate and individual members only which would have a 24-hour concierge and be aimed at the city's corporate market, ironically expected to grow on the back of developments such as Paradise and Arena Central.

Town and Country Inns is also entering into a joint venture with Edgbaston-based All in All Events, which specialises in organising corporate functions, dinners and balls, and plans include "mobile" versions of Mechu and Fleet Street Kitchen catering.

Finally, the company says it wants to launch a new events programme at nightclub Mechu.