1. : Early Experiences
Ms. Roberts studied at the College of Food in
Birmingham. Later she worked in London for
My Kinda Town which had individual brands like
Havana, Bar Cuba and Beach Blanket Babylon.
Coming back to Norwich, she started working with
Henry Watt and Animal Inns and was there for four
years or so.
Sarah-Jane was also partly involved with setting up
the Orgasmic group of restaurants (2001).
Along with 5 other colleagues, she later formed
Indulging Gastros Ltd.
They opened in the former Gundry White's, opposite
Orgasmic in Queen Street, in late-August or early
September 2006, under the Indulge name.
This was her first business, around the age of 32.
However, in October 2009 this particular
pub/restaurant was abandoned.
Meanwhile, in October 2008, the former Lillie Langtry
was taken over, and the name oddly truncated.
2. : Rapid Progress
Since these early Norwich ventures, her "empire"
of pubs has grown very rapidly.
By late-November 2009 four more establishments had
become owned and/or controlled by this enterprising lady.
Evidence from the new Langtry suggests, however,
that brewery-ties (where pre-existing) may, sadly,
have been retained.
A stone's throw from the (Greene King) Langtry is the
Adnam's Rose Valley,
which was also adopted in 2008.
By September 2009 the old Slug and Lettuce had
become beluga (eaterie and bar) which does not seem
to belong with the Beluga duo in Manchester and
Bramhall (Cheshire).
As recently as November 2009 the former RED has
(yet again) been renamed, this time as
Karma Kafe.
This is described as a "night owl" facility.
Finally (pro tem) the Buck,
an ancient and famous
pub on Thorpe Green, has joined the list;
apparently with the added prefix 'Old'.
Continued . . .
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(contd.)
The November 2009 issue of the Thorpe St. Andrew
Newsletter is the source of the information concerning
the Buck takeover; as well as for several other items
now in the public domain.
Sarah-Jane admits that she did not set out to open
so many premises in such a short space of time -
especially in the current economic climate.
"It's very much about whether things
present themselves to us".
3. : Year 2010
June 2010 has seen other developments.
Firstly, the Rose Valley has acquired a new name -
The Mulberry. As mentioned above, re the neighbouring
Langtry, the brewery-tie sadly remains with Adnam's.
It is now - explicitly - a "gastro pub".
Secondly, the sadly neglected Woolpack
in Muspole Street has joined the portfolio.
Once again Indulge Ltd.
(which seems to be the most recent company title)
have seen fit to change a name whicb is centuries old :
modifying it to The Woolie, which is what customers
have usually called it in any case.
Ms. Roberts is confirmed as managing director
of the company.
Perhaps she does not believe that a pub's first duty is to
provide a choice of quality beers. The assumption is that
the change of The Woolie - to a tied house - has much
to do with the high renovation costs probably being
shared between Indulge Ltd. and the brewery.
However, a check on the Buck Inn tells a different story.
Renovation expenses seem to have been modest enough
to avoid her having to go cap-in-hand to a brewery.
This most pleasant pub remains a Free House,
in practice.
In September 2010 the former
Aquarium, in Tombland,
changed its name again when taken over by Indulge Ltd.
3. : Year 2011
Reeds restaurant and bar opened to the public in
October 2009. Two years later (Nov. 2011) Indulging
Gastros Ltd. added it to their portfolio, specifically
strengthening their position in the more up-market
Tombland area. The new (and odd) name of Bam Bam
was (of course) applied : suggesting an Asian flavour
to the meals?.
See the omnibus website under Farmer Brown's.
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