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PBR said it had made significant investments over the past two years, both in the original estate and most recently in acquisitions, to convert the company from a marginal late night bar and nightclub business into a national premium bar and restaurant business.

Last year, PBR acquired the Bel and the Dragon pub restaurant business, which operates in the South East of the UK and also acquired Manchester based Living Ventures Limited which consisted of thirteen Living Room branded sites throughout the UK.

It is PBR's intention to expand the Living Room brand, over the next few years, to over 30 sites.To reflect the national spread of its current business, PBR (LSE:PBR) has decided to relocate its head office to Manchester from Newcastle.

The company will retain a regional office in Newcastle and therefore job losses are expected to be minimal. BPR intends to change the registered office address to Manchester once the move has been completed.

Craig Bell, group finance director, whose family is based in the North East, does not wish to relocate to Manchester. As a result, he has informed the board of his decision to leave the company.

Bell joined the company as group finance director in October 2001, and has agreed to conduct a handover to his successor and will continue with the business for the next few months.

PBR said that the search for a replacement group finance director was “well under way” and the company will make a further announcement in due course.

Mark Jones, executive chairman, said that the decision to move PBR's head office to Manchester reflected the firm’s greatly changed focus to a national premium bar and restaurant operator, a strategy which he believes will deliver long term sustainable growth.

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