Concept Tavern’s to launch Yorkshire venue with new female MD

Yorkshire-based Concept Taverns is gearing up to launch the twelfth venue in its rapidly expanding portfolio of bars and pubs. The Swan Tavern is poised for a summer launch having undergone a dramatic £740k reinvention in the space formerly occupied by the Riverside Fox, Ripponden.

The Swan Tavern will boast a refreshingly modern interior design that mixes exposed beams and eye-catching brickwork with pops of colour. The design project has been overseen by Yorkshire Project Design and Build Ltd. Guests will be able to enjoy 10 draught lagers and ales, 4 cask hand pulls, creative cocktails and an expansive selection of world wines and spirits.

A mouth-watering menu of hand-stretched pizzas will be available, as well as a selection of sharers and small plates. The opening will create 20 new jobs, alongside the appointment of a new Managing Director.

Victoria Hatton will replace Ben Warren in the coveted role. Victoria has had a lengthy and successful career within the hospitality industry, which began working with Concept Taverns founders at Bar 62 in Horsforth back in 2005.

She also enjoyed success working for Church Green in Cheshire, which won the illustrious Restaurant of the Year in 2012, before moving on to Stockdale’s of Yorkshire. She returned to Concept Taverns in 2021 as Operations Manager before taking up her new position. Victoria will be one of just a small handful of female Bar Group Directors in Yorkshire.

Victoria said: "Having been part of the Concept Taverns success story going from five to eleven venues in the past few years, I was thrilled to accept my new role as managing director. I’m super excited to get started and I hope my position opens the door for more women to land similar positions in the industry. The Swan Tavern is a fantastic venue and the building itself has a rich history in the local area. We’re looking forward to becoming a key part of the community, and with so many great pubs, bars and restaurants in the area, we know we’re in great company."