Clive Watson is branching out from the pub industry into the world of indoor cricket as he embarks on a new business undertaking in collaboration with a former Middlesex cricketer. Together, they aim to secure £10 million in funding.

Watson, the co-founder of Capital Pub Company and City Pub Group, has allied with David Nash, 46, and his brother Glen, 42, alongside Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, 55, to establish a new entity called Sixes Growth.

The 63-year-old entrepeneur intends to eventually take Sixes Growth public on the AIM market by early 2028. The founders hold a collective stake of around 40%, which will decrease as additional investment is sought.

Sixes is one of the latest ventures in the burgeoning trend of “competitive socialising,” which merges technology-driven indoor cricket with upscale dining and entertainment. Similar concepts include Flight Club (darts), Swingers (golf), and Bounce (table tennis).

Previously, the Nash brothers created an operation called Sixes, managing ten cricket venues, but they sold that business last year to Pitch International and are now disconnected from it. Sixes Growth marks the launch of an entirely new venture.

Having garnered £1.5 million in initial funding from personal connections, Sixes Growth is looking to raise the target of £10 million within the upcoming 18 months to facilitate its expansion across the UK. The company has already secured its first location in Headingley, Leeds, conveniently located near Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and it aims to open ten venues in cricket-loving cities like Bristol, Cardiff, Nottingham, Southampton, and Brighton by 2026, with plans to reveal a site in southwest London soon.

While retaining some elements of its predecessor, Watson emphasizes that Sixes Growth will carve out its own distinct identity, featuring engaging cricket experiences alongside premium dining options curated by Michelin-starred chefs, as well as hosting charity events.

In addition to indoor cricket games, the venues will feature large screens for showcasing sporting events, attracting wider audiences. Watson expressed his vision for a lively atmosphere, reminiscent of the popular Regent-operated Walkabout sports bars from his tenure as finance director, stating, “We want to recreate that sporting atmosphere.”

A prominent figure in the pub industry, Watson gained recognition as the finance director of Regent Inns and has also appeared on the reality show Made in Chelsea with his daughters.

His previous businesses, including Capital Pub Company and City Pub Group, expanded through enterprise investment scheme funding and were eventually sold to competitors. Capital was acquired by Greene King for £93 million in 2011, while City Pub Group was sold to Young’s for £162 million earlier this year.

Watson indicated that the financial outlay for establishing each Sixes Growth venue would be approximately £800,000, primarily for cricket nets and electronic scoreboards, with the sites being leasehold rather than freehold.