Robert Viney  ~  My Story

Successful Entrepreneur & Business Coach

In 30 years, I have successfully started and run many businesses, including pubs, a microbrewery, sandwich shops and delicatessens, property rental, investments and business coaching, all cumulatively generating in excess of £100 million in that time.

I Am Originally A Chemist

Originally a chemist, I graduated with an honours degree in 1976 and subsequently worked in the Aluminium industry with the British Aluminium Company as a research chemist until being made redundant in 1980.

I promised myself that if I was ever to be on the dole again, it would be through my own fault and not the fault of someone else, so I embarked on a career of being self employed.

Prior to my redundancy, I ran the social club bar at British Aluminium and I had already decided that I wanted my own pub and set out on the road to achieve that.

I Needed More Experience

I did not have enough experience but was lucky enough to be offered the chance to run the ‘Frog & Frigate’ pub in Southampton, owned by Ringwood Brewery.

The White Hart Inn In Somerset Was Bought

The invaluable experience allowed me to buy my first pub, The White Hart Inn at Trudoxhill near Frome in June 1984.  This pub was very run down, when I took it on and, within 12 months, it was the busiest pub in the area.

 I still own the White Hart Inn and is currently run by my tenant Graeme Warberry.

A Microbrewery Was Added

3 years later a small microbrewery was installed to the rear of the pub producing quality traditional beer for The White Hart Inn and other local pubs.

More Pubs Were Added

By 1999, other pubs had been started from scratch including the Pig & Fiddle in Bath, The Frog & Fiddle and Fish & Fiddle both in Cheltenham and the brewery, known as Ash Vine Brewery, had moved to a large 5000 square feet site and grew to supply in excess of 1000 pubs nationally.

Here I am pictured outside the brewery in a local newspaper item with the headline “Brewing For Hop & Glory”  – Hop & Glory was one of our many award-winning beers that we brewed.

I Retired From The Pub Business

In 2001, I came out of the pub business to take over a sandwich shop and delicatessen business, owned by a family member.

I Took On a Family Business

The business known as Picknics of Devon, trading in Torbay, had accrued a huge debt and was on the point of failing.  It took me about 3 years to turn Picknics around and to start to pay off the debt.

By the time I sold the business in 2014, it had become a massive success with a huge following and was the local market leader. By the time of its sale, the huge debt had been repaid in full.

When I sold the business in 2014, it comprised two shops in Torbay, one in Torquay and one in Paignton  –  this is a picture of the Torquay

I Now Coach Businesses

After taking a break in 2015, I am now putting much of my energies into Prestige Business Coaching to give businesses the benefit of my experience and expertise to achieve high levels of success, themselves.

I am not new to coaching businesses, though, as I have coached several businesses very successfully, previously, alongside running my own businesses.

I Have Some Powerful Methods To Share

As part of my coaching, I show my clients the very many methods that have successfully created business success for myself. These methods are massively powerful and are unique to me only.

I started coaching Alessandra Ruocco in 2009 and we turned her business around from large losses.  She is my biggest coaching success.

My Mission Is To Increase Business Success & Reduce Failure

My mission is to increase business success and reduce business failure & this site includes powerful advice for business owners to boost their businesses. This advice is offered here free of charge – just take a look, read and absorb!

If you are a business owner or someone planning on starting a business soon, I could probably help you, giving you access to my powerful business methods.

Please contact me below.