Terry Venables, the former England football manager, passed away recently, leaving behind a legacy of success in the world of football. However, Venables' ventures extended beyond the pitch, as he once owned a pub chain in the 1990s.

One of the pubs in Venables' chain was the Granby Tavern in Reading, Berkshire. Residents will be familiar with the popular venue, based in Cemetery Junction.

The Granby was part of a group of four pubs, including the Cock and Magpie in Epping, Essex, the Royal Oak in Marlow, Bucks, and Macey's in Mayfair, central London.

Unfortunately, Venables' pub venture was not as successful as his footballing career. The pubs struggled financially, and by 1991, the company had accumulated losses of £256,000 and an overdraft of over £300,000.

Reading Chronicle: Credit: Sue McArdleCredit: Sue McArdle (Image: Sue McArdle)

Venables attempted to save the business by forming a new company, Recall City, to manage the remaining pubs. However, the efforts were futile, and Transatlantic Inns Ltd, the company that owned the pubs, went into liquidation.

The liquidation resulted in NatWest, the bank that held the overdraft, calling in their debt, which had been guaranteed by Venables, Kirby, and two other partners. As a result, Venables paid £144,359 to clear the overdraft.

Venables later sought to reclaim the money from Kirby, arguing that he was entitled to be reimbursed under the indemnity agreement signed by all four partners. However, the outcome of this legal dispute is unclear.

The Granby Tavern, once part of Venables' pub chain, is now a dessert parlour. It stands as a reminder of Venables' foray into the hospitality industry, a venture that ultimately proved unsuccessful. Despite this setback, Venables' legacy in football remains undiminished, and he will be remembered as one of England's most successful managers.