Secrets of my success: Clive Watson, chairman of the City Pub Group

Clive Watson, chairman of the City Pub Group, reveals how he came to work in the food and drinks sector, and appear on TV show Made in Chelsea...

What is the City Pub Group?

It is an AIM-listed landlord and operator of 33 premium pubs, mainly in London. Sales last year were up 34% to £37.4 million.

What do you do?

I launched the business with brewing industry veteran David Bruce, who is still a shareholder, in 2012. I lead the business and my focus is on doubling the size of the estate by 2021.

I spend much of my week meeting property agents about acquiring sites, or with our pub managers. Our next venture is a pub in Parsons Green that will only serve vegan drinks and food.

What do you enjoy about it?

One perk is getting to sample lots of local craft beers. But the main thing I love is that it’s a job where I am out most of the time rather than stuck in our head office in Fitzrovia.

What don’t you like?

The industry is subjected to so much government policy. It can be hard to keep margins growing and have fixed growth plans when you never know what might be thrown at you next in terms of beer duty, business rates and licensing laws.

Biggest break?

It was realising that I didn’t want to work in the City any more. I grew up in Epsom and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1986 with PwC. I went straight to work for investment bank Manufacturers Hanover and spent three years there, but really didn’t enjoy being behind a desk.

So I swapped the Square Mile for suburbia, and took a job as the finance chief of Regent Inns. It was headquartered in Whetstone and owned bars. I was much happier. In 1998, I ventured out to invest in my own pubs. In 2001 I teamed up with David to launch the Capital Pub Company. We sold to Greene King in 2011 for £93 million.

And setback?

We floated Capital Pub Company in 2007 at 165p per share. Then the recession hit and we really struggled with high borrowings and weak consumer confidence. In April 2009 the shares plunged to 32p. We worked extremely hard to get the business back into shape, including developing spaces within the pubs to increase the trading area. We sold at 235p a share. It was a roller-coaster journey.

How do you balance your work and home life?

I control my own diary and often meet friends and family in our pubs to socialise and catch up with staff at the same time.

I have two adult daughters, Lucy and Tiffany, who have appeared on TV’s Made in Chelsea. I have also popped up in the show, but don’t plan on doing so again. I have two younger sons, aged 11 and nine, with my second wife Helen, so I try to take us on weekend breaks and tie that in with quick visits to our pubs outside London.

I have just completed a part-time course to get a masters in modern history from Cambridge University. It was something I always wanted to do.

Any tips for those starting out in the industry?

If you want to be in pubs management, there is no harm in working behind a bar for three months to get a feel for how they run, and see what people want from their local.