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{{Short description|British businessman (born 1941)}}
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'''Paul Gregg''' (born [[1941]] in [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]], [[North Yorkshire]] <ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a77bc478-faed-11d8-9a71-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=.html FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>) is an [[England|English]] multi-millionaire businessman and entertainment impresario, who built Apollo Leisure Group into the UK's biggest theatre owner and largest privately owned company operating in Western Europe.
{{EngvarB|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{about||the British academic|Paul Gregg (economist)|the musician|Restless Heart}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Paul Gregg
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1941}}
| birth_place = [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire]]
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place =
| nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]]
| other_names =
| occupation = Businessman and entertainment impresario
| years_active =
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| known_for = Creating Apollo Leisure Group
| notable_works =
}}
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'''Paul Gregg''' (born 1941 in [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire]]<ref name="autogenerated1">Guthrie, Jonathon. (31 August 2004) [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a77bc478-faed-11d8-9a71-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=.html / Home UK / UK – Pure theatre on and off the football pitch]. Ft.com.</ref>) is a businessman and entertainment impresario, who built Apollo Leisure Group into the UK's biggest theatre owner and largest independent family run cinema chain in the United Kingdom


After selling Apollo to [[SFX Group]] in [[1999]], and leaving new owners [[Clear Channel]], he was a large stake holder in [[Everton F.C.]], before falling out with former friend [[Bill Kenwright]] in [[2004]], and selling his stake in October [[2006]] to [[Robert Earl]].
After selling Apollo to SFX Group in 1999, and leaving new owners [[Clear Channel Communications|Clear Channel]], he was a large stake holder in [[Everton F.C.]], before falling out with former friend [[Bill Kenwright]] in 2004, and selling his stake in October 2006 to [[Robert Earl]].


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==Apollo Leisure Group==
In the [[2006]] [[Sunday Times Rich List]], Gregg and his family were ranked 439th valued at £127m <ref>[http://archive.oxfordmail.net/2006/4/27/94255.html County is in the money<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.In July 2007 he was due to be introduced as the new owner of [[Sheffield Wednesday]]<ref>[http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide1/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/07/19/SOCCER_Sheff_Wed_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1 GREGG EXPECTED TO BUY IN TO WEDNESDAY | Coca Cola Championship Football Transfer News, Football News, Fixtures, Results, Match Reports, Stats<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
Gregg's early career was in ABC cinema followed by a managing a Social Club at Cowley at the huge British Leyland site. Moving up north to Southport, Gregg became the Director of Tourism and Attractions for Southport. During his time working for Sefton Council, the Southport Theatre Complex was built adjacent to the Floral Hall venue. This provided the town with two venues that went on to host some huge stars performing that had never before been seen in Southport. Following his departure from Sefton and a brief post with the Prince of Wales Hotel group, an opportunity came in 1977, aged 36, to purchase the Ardwick Theatre in Manchester – soon followed by the New Theatre in Oxford – and so Apollo Leisure had lift off, and gradually over the following years Apollo became the biggest theatre owners/management team in the United Kingdom.


⚫
Gregg built his empire by taking over struggling venues and turning them round. The [[Liverpool Empire Theatre]], which was losing £750,000 a year under the [[Derek Hatton]] led council, was leased to become a home to big musicals. Gregg also reopened the [[Lyceum Theatre (London)|Lyceum]] in London in the 1990s at a cost of £14&nbsp;million, after the theatre had been closed for 10 years. [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s revival of ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' ran for two years, followed by [[Disney]]'s ''[[The Lion King]]''.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> On 28 September 1982 in association with friend [[Bill Kenwright]], Gregg co-produced a production of ''[[The Mikado]]'' at the Cambridge Theatre, London.<ref>[http://www.gilbertandsullivanonline.com/programm.htm Programmes/Ephemera] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060420221553/http://www.gilbertandsullivanonline.com/programm.htm |date=20 April 2006 }}. Gilbertandsullivanonline.com.</ref>
==Biography==
The son of a refrigeration engineer, at school in [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]] he was: ''"Hopeless! I was always 30th out of a class of 30."'' <ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a77bc478-faed-11d8-9a71-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=.html FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


⚫
The eventual portfolio of venues included [[The Point Theatre]] in Dublin, the [[Sheffield Arena]] and [[Wales National Ice Rink]] in [[Cardiff]]; as well as 23 theatres nationwide, including: [[Hammersmith Apollo]], the Apollo Victoria and the [[Lyceum Theatre (London)|Lyceum]] in London; the [[Bristol Hippodrome]]; the [[Edinburgh Playhouse]]; the Old Fire Station and [[New Theatre Oxford|Apollo]] in [[Oxford]]; Grand Opera House in [[York]]; the Opera House, Palace and Apollo Ardwick in [[Manchester]]; the Liverpool Empire and the Floral Hall in [[Southport]]. Apollo also owned Tickets Direct, which sold around £6&nbsp;million theatre and concert tickets in 1999.
Gregg left school at 16 and failed in his ambition to work for [[Odeon Cinemas]]: ''"They asked me at the interview what 5 per cent of £100 was and I couldn't give them the answer."'' <ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a77bc478-faed-11d8-9a71-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=.html FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He got a job at [[Associated British Cinemas]] as a trainee manager.


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On 6 August 1999, Apollo accepted a takeover offer from the American entertainment corporation SFX for £158&nbsp;million, because: ''"We were running a family business and suddenly we realised there were 5,000 people in the family."''<ref name=autogenerated1 /> Gregg and his family owned 80% of the company, and received between them £126&nbsp;million worth of shares and loan stock in SFX.<ref>[http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/news/library/news/bl080699.htm The latest British theatre news for 08/06/99] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013075920/http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/news/library/news/bl080699.htm |date=13 October 2006 }}. Britishtheatreguide.info (6 August 1999).</ref><ref name="SFX-ENTERTAINMENT-INC-Nov-1999-10-Q">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1083/95013699001485/filing-main.htm |title=SFX ENTERTAINMENT INC, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date Nov 15, 1999 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =May 14, 2018}}</ref> SFX also agreed to acquire The Barry Clayman Corporation, 50% owned by the shareholders of Apollo, which promotes concert and entertainment events, and whose European tour artists include: [[Riverdance]], [[Michael Jackson]], [[Neil Diamond]], [[Barbra Streisand]], [[Shirley Bassey]] and [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]].<ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-55340066.html SFX Entertainment Agrees to Acquire Leading U.K. Entertainment Provider Apollo Leisure Group. – Business Wire ], 3 August 1999, via HighBeam archive] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516134305/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-55340066.html |date=16 May 2011 }}</ref>
Aged 28, he was a council employee running the Floral Hall at [[Southport]]. He successfully attracted to the run down venue the screen icon [[Marlene Dietrich]], as well as [[Ella Fitzgerald]], [[Count Basie]] and [[Duke Ellington]].


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Paul Gregg stayed on, becoming European Chairman of the enlarged SFX group. Gregg approached producer [[David Ian]] to head up the theatre division, but Ian refused. After, the SFX Entertainment division was acquired by [[Clear Channel Communications|Clear Channel]] in 2000.<ref>[http://www.thestage.co.uk/stage125/timeline.php/1980/indepth Stage 125 :: Timeline :: 1980–present] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108172615/http://www.thestage.co.uk/stage125/timeline.php/1980/indepth |date=8 January 2007 }}</ref> Gregg eventually persuaded Ian to join the group by absorbing Ian's joint venture with actor [[Paul Nicholas]], and made Ian head of the European Theatre group before he left. Ian took over Gregg's role as European managing director of Entertainment at Clear Channel.<ref>[http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/5136 The Stage / Features / Seeing clearly – David Ian<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
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===Apollo Leisure Group===
Gregg made his fortune with Apollo Leisure. A career executive, he gradually worked his way up through '''Apollo Theatres''' until he founded Apollo Leisure in [[1977]], aged 36. After setting up a [[Social Club]] for car workers at [[Cowley, Oxford]] <ref>[http://archive.oxfordmail.net/2006/4/27/94255.html County is in the money<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, he borrowed the then huge sum of £25,000 to buy the [[New Theatre Oxford|New Theatre]] in [[Oxford]] <ref>[http://www.mesoccer.com/archives/everton/everton-p-1424.htm MeSoccer - Battle of True Blue Holdings<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, immediately renaming it the ''"Apollo"'' <ref>http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:ejNFBIwS1rkJ:212.58.240.110/oxford/stage/apollo.shtml+%22Paul+Gregg%22+apollo&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=42&client=safari</ref>. After buying the Ardwick Theatre in [[Manchester]], Gregg and his wife Nita went on to build Apollo into the UK's biggest theatre owner and largest privately owned company operating in Western Europe.


==Apollo Cinemas==
⚫
The Gregg's built their empire by taking over struggling venues and turning them round. The [[Liverpool Empire]], which was losing £750,000 a year under the [[Derek Hatton]] led council, was leased to become be a home to big musicals. Gregg also reopened the [[Lyceum Theatre (London)|Lyceum]] in [[London]] in the [[1990]]'s at a cost of £14m, after the theatre had been closed for 10 years. [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s revival of ''"[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]"'' ran for two years, followed by [[Disney]]'s ''"[[The Lion King]]"'' <ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a77bc478-faed-11d8-9a71-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=.html FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. On [[28 September]], [[1982]] in association with friend [[Bill Kenwright]], Gregg co-produced a production of ''"[[The Mikado]]"'' at the Cambridge Theatre, London <ref>[http://www.gilbertandsullivanonline.com/programm.htm Programmes/Ephemera<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
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In 2004, Gregg bought back the [[Apollo Cinemas]] chain from Clear Channel for £23&nbsp;million, before the European theatres were spun out into sister company [[Live Nation]]. Apollo instantly became the largest independently owned UK cinema chain, operating from 13 locations and having 78 screens and four bingo halls.


⚫
Apollo also announced plans to open London's first West End multiplex cinema in a decade. A new five-screen complex will be part of a £70&nbsp;million scheme to enhance lower [[Regent Street]]. Four more new regional complexes are under development.
On [[20 November]], [[1995]] [[Ogden Corporation]] acquired 25% of Apollo <ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-17769792.html Ogden Announces Agreement To Acquire Equity Position In Apollo Leisure Group Plc. - Business Wire - Highbeam Research<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


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Together, cinemas and bingo generated pre-tax profits of about £1.5&nbsp;million on turnover of £12.2&nbsp;million in the year to 25 March 2004. From this, the Paul Gregg took £240,000 in dividends.<ref name=autogenerated1 />
⚫
The eventual portfolio of venues included [[The Point Theatre]] in [[Dublin]], the [[Sheffield Arena]] and [[Wales National Ice Rink]] in [[Cardiff]]; as well as 23 theatres nationwide including: [[Hammersmith Apollo]], the Apollo Victoria and the [[Lyceum Theatre (London)|Lyceum]] in [[London]]; the [[Bristol Hippodrome]]; the [[Edinburgh Playhouse]]; the Old Fire Station and [[New Theatre Oxford|Apollo]] in [[Oxford]]; Royal Theatre in [[York]]; the Opera House, Palace and Apollo Ardwick in [[Manchester]]; the Liverpool Empire and the Floral Hall in [[Southport]]. Apollo also owned '''Tickets Direct''', which sold around £6m theatre and concert tickets in [[1999]].


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==Everton F.C.==
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On [[6 August]], [[1999]] Apollo accepted a takeover offer from the American entertainment corporation [[SFX]] for £158m, because: ''"We were running a family business and suddenly we realised there were 5,000 people in the family."'' <ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a77bc478-faed-11d8-9a71-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=.html FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Gregg and his family owned 80% of the company, and received between them £126m worth of shares and loan stock in SFX <ref>[http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/news/library/news/bl080699.htm The latest British theatre news for 08/06/99<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> <ref>[http://sec.edgar-online.com/1999/11/15/17/0000950136-99-001485/Section13.asp SFX ENTERTAINMENT INC Quarterly Report (10-Q) ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. SFX also agreed to acquire '''The Barry Clayman Corporation''', 50% owned by the shareholders of Apollo, which promotes concert and entertainment events, and who's European tour artists include: [[Riverdance]], [[Michael Jackson]], [[Neil Diamond]], [[Barbra Streisand]], [[Shirley Bassey]] and [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]] <ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-55340066.html SFX Entertainment Agrees to Acquire Leading U.K. Entertainment Provider Apollo Leisure Group. - Business Wire - HighBeam Research<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.


Paul Gregg invested £7&nbsp;million in True Blue Holdings Ltd, which took the majority share holding in [[Everton F.C.]] in 2000 from former chairman [[Peter Johnson (businessman)|Peter Johnson]]. Gregg first came to the attention of Everton fans, when he became the main driver behind the [[King's Dock, Port of Liverpool|King's Dock]] scheme, promising to plough in an additional £30&nbsp;million to get the project moving.
⚫
Gregg stayed on, becoming European Chairman of the enlarged [[SFX]] group. Gregg approached producer [[David Ian]] to head up the theatre division, but Ian refused. After the SFX Entertainment division was acquired by [[Clear Channel]] in [[2000]] <ref>[http://www.thestage.co.uk/stage125/timeline.php/1980/indepth Stage 125 :: Timeline :: 1980-present<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, Gregg eventually persuaded Ian to join the group by absorbing Ian's joint venture with actor [[Paul Nicholas]], and made Ian head of the European Theatre group before he left. Ian took over Gregg's role as European Managing Director of Entertainment in a Clear Channel <ref>[http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/5136 The Stage / Features / Seeing clearly - David Ian<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.


==Apollo Resorts & Leisure==
===Gregg Air===
After buying into Everton, Gregg needed a way to quickly access matches around the country. He initially used '''OxAero''', run by a pair of former pilots out of Oxford airport. Gregg bought the company in 2001, rebranded it Gregg Air and invested £6m to buy two jet aircraft, a seven-seater [[Citation Ultra]] and a five-seater [[Cessna 525 Citation Jet]] <ref>http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8213-1471698,00.html</ref>. The company now operates seven jets, including a new [[Raytheon 390 Premier I]], and employs 40 people at its headquarters at [[Oxford Airport]] in [[Kidlington]], 20 of them pilots. Gregg Air's management service enables clients' planes to be hired out when they do not need them. The company is currently promoting a service allowing wealthy football fans to pay £10,000 to £15,000 a year in return for guaranteed flights to all the away matches of their favoured club. Marginally profitable on sales of £5.5m in [[2004]], the target is a seven figure profit at end [[2005]] <ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a77bc478-faed-11d8-9a71-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=.html FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.


Gregg's company recently won the first new large casino licence to be awarded in the UK winning the new licence for Manor Mills, [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]].<ref>[http://www.gamblingkingz.com/news/2011/02/14/work-begins-on-huge-hull-casino.asp Work Begins On Huge Hull Casino]. Gamblingkingz.com.</ref> The company have just recently completed a successful application in [[Middlesbrough]] and are short listed for licences in [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] and [[Milton Keynes]].
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===Apollo Cinemas===
⚫
In [[2004]], Gregg bought back the '''Apollo Cinema''' chain from Clear Channel for £23M, before the European theatres were spun out into sister company [[Live Nation]]. Apollo instantly became the largest independently owned UK cinema chain, operating from 13 locations and having a total of 78 screens; and four bingo halls.

⚫
Apollo also announced plans to open London's first West End multiplex cinema for a decade, with a new 5 screen complex part of a £70M pound scheme set to enhance lower [[Regent Street]]. Four more new regional complexes under development <ref>http://www.a-m-a.co.uk/bulletin2/post.asp?method=TopicQuote&TOPIC_ID=92&FORUM_ID=5</ref>.

⚫
Together, cinemas and bingo generated pre-tax profits of about £1.5m on turnover of £12.2m in the year to [[25 March]], [[2004]]. From this, the Greggs took £240,000 in dividends <ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a77bc478-faed-11d8-9a71-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=.html FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.

⚫
===Everton F.C.===
Gregg invested £7M in friend [[Bill Kenwright]]'s vehicle '''True Blue Holdings Ltd''' <ref>[http://archive.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/2000/1/27/79675.html Showbiz boss backs football takeover<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, which took the majority share holding in [[Everton F.C.]] in [[2000]] from former Chairman [[Peter Johnson]] <ref>[http://www.bluekipper.com/mbe/who_owns_are_club.html Who Owns Our Club & Why<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Gregg first came to the attention of Everton fan's, when he became the main driver behind the [[King's Dock]] scheme, promising to plough in an additional £30M to get the project moving <ref>[http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/04-05/comment/viewpoint/02-gregg.asp ToffeeWeb - Viewpoint: Paul Gregg<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. After the scheme fell apart, and amid allegations of excessive "consultancy fee's" paid to one of Gregg's companies, he stayed with the club around the [[Bill Kenwright]] five year plan, subject to: ''"having no interest in football, and wishing to make a return on my investment within two years"'' <ref>[http://www.bluekipper.com/mbe/who_owns_are_club.html Who Owns Our Club & Why<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.

However, in August [[2004]], Gregg fell out with Kenwright over the £40M debt levels of the club, and offered to cover the cash needs of the club while re-finance was agreed, subject to Kenwright and his supporter Jon Wood resigning <ref>[http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2004_aug_03.htm Everton FC, Paul Gregg, Bill Kenwright chairman - August 2004<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Kenwright refused, while Gregg claimed support from fellow director [[Lord Grantchester]], who later issued a statement saying he only supported dissolution of True Blue Holdings. Gregg's investment never materialised, and Kenwright survived when he presented his own plans for investment via the '''Fortress Sports Fund Ltd'''. CEO [[Trevor Birch]] resigned after six weeks in the job over the feud, having saved Everton from [[bankruptcy]] in December [[2003]] <ref>[http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,9753,1266354,00.html Everton descend into disarray | News | Guardian Unlimited Football<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.

True Blue Holdings was dissolved in December [[2004]] <ref>[http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0400evertonfc/matchday/tm_objectid=14952189&method=full&siteid=50061&page=1&headline=everton-group-dissolved-name_page.html icLiverpool - Everton group dissolved<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, to enable new investment to be attracted, but it has also left the club vulnerable to takeover. With the dissolution of True Blue, the individual holdings of the 22,031,351 shares were assumed to convert directly to Everton shares, leaving the bulk of the Blues' shares split between four parties - Kenwright, the Gregg family, Jon Woods and Lord Grantchester. Kenwright owned the largest block of shares, closely followed by Gregg - but with Kenwright and Woods holding of over 50% out voting Gregg's 23%, Kenwright remained firmly in control.

In May [[2005]], the [[Liverpool Echo]] reported that Gregg had been in negotiations with [[Chester City F.C.]] chairman [[Stephen Vaughan, Sr.|Stephen Vaughan]] over selling his stake <ref>[http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0400evertonfc/0100news/tm_objectid=15539588%26method=full%26siteid=50061%26headline=vaughan%2dwants%2dto%2dbuy%2dinto%2deverton-name_page.html'%20target= icLiverpool - Vaughan wants to buy into Everton<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Gregg issued a statement via a PR company, denying contact with Vaughan <ref>http://toffeeweb.com/season/04-05/news/article.asp?ID=85</ref>.

In October [[2006]], Gregg sold his shares BCR Sports, the vehicle of Kenwright friend and [[Planet Hollywood]] founder [[Robert Earl]] in a £15M deal. Gregg and his wife immediately resigned from the board <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/6072510.stm BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Everton | Gregg gives up stake in Everton<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.



==Personal life==
He married his first wife and had two sons, Tony ([[1964]]) and Robert ([[1965]]). October 2, 1968: Jetta gives birth to their daughter Wendy but she dies a day later of myelomeningocele - a complex congenital spinal anomaly. Later that month Paul and Jetta Gregg separate.
Unfortunately 5 months later his first wife killed herself in 1969, aged 30 and the boys were placed in care in [[1970]], amid allegations that Gregg's new wife Anita (known as '''Nita''') didn't get on with the boys, also according to a report to the children's committee of South-port county borough council: "An NSPCC inspector visited the home of Mr and Mrs Gregg ... in response to a neighbour's complaint about ill-treatment of Robert.
"The inspector found the complaints to be accurate. Robert has been bruised and locked in and out of the house. Mrs Gregg appears to be rejecting of Robert." Mr Gregg denied any "intended ill treatment" but inspectors felt that most of what he said was "an attempt to cover up his home situation, especially with regard to his wife's rejecting attitude to both Robert and Tony."
<ref>[http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006490676,00.html Soccer tycoon dumped his sons | The Sun |HomePage|News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> <ref>http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_method=full%26objectid=17999097%26siteid=50061-name_page.html</ref> </ref><ref>[http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_method=full%26objectid=18000653%26siteid=50061-name_page.html icLiverpool - Day I knew I would not be seeing mum again. I screamed<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. In [[1999]] after the purchase of Apollo Leisure by SFX, Gregg fell foul of Oxford City Council and local residents over plans for expanding his home "Yatsden", on Foxcombe Road, [[Boars Hill|Boars Hill Heath]] with a cinema and garage <ref>[http://archive.oxfordmail.net/1999/9/3/81456.html Cinema decision delayed<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.

In September [[1999]], the Gregg's bought five-storey, [[Listed building|Grade II* listed]] ''"Garden Corner"'', one of the finest historic homes in London and considered one of the top five percent of listed buildings in the UK. The building on [[Chelsea Embankment]] was carefully restored, but by the time it was finished Gregg had bought the stake in Everton and was spending more time in the Northwest. Resultantly, the home was placed on the market in early [[2002]] for £8.5 million but, following [[September 11th]] the housing market stalled, and the property was revalued at £6.85 million - with experts saying it would mean virtually no profit <ref>http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-13571153-details/Home+for+sale%2C+with+a+£1.6m+discount/article.do;jsessionid=yyvJFB1TkzJ4NQCBGnWD2lpLjMJn6CVX9RCW7c1RZlHdhYtSGgYG!119501946</ref>.

Gregg has invested time and energy in charitable projects, such as the [[Make-A-Wish Foundation]] for chronically ill children. In [[1998]], Gregg was made a fellow of the [[University of Central Lancashire]] <ref>[http://uclan.ac.uk/news/1998/web290b.htm News Releases - University of Central Lancashire<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://paul-jetta-us.co.uk Our millionaire father Paul Gregg what a loser !]
*[http://www.apollocinemas.co.uk Apollo Cinemas]
*[http://www.bluekipper.com/club/0405/club3_gregg.htm Interview re Everton]
*[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a77bc478-faed-11d8-9a71-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=.html Interview re Everton at time of 2004 dispute with Kenwright]

Gregg air went bust, because he is a tit


{{DEFAULTSORT:Gregg, Paul}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gregg, Paul}}
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[[Category:People from Scarborough, North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:British businesspeople]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:People from Scarborough]]
[[Category:English theatre managers and producers]]
[[Category:English football chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:Everton F.C.]]

Latest revision as of 04:32, 5 October 2024

For the British academic, see Paul Gregg (economist). For the musician, see Restless Heart.
Paul Gregg
Born1941 (age 83–84)
Scarborough, North Yorkshire
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Businessman and entertainment impresario
Known forCreating Apollo Leisure Group

Paul Gregg (born 1941 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire[1]) is a businessman and entertainment impresario, who built Apollo Leisure Group into the UK's biggest theatre owner and largest independent family run cinema chain in the United Kingdom

After selling Apollo to SFX Group in 1999, and leaving new owners Clear Channel, he was a large stake holder in Everton F.C., before falling out with former friend Bill Kenwright in 2004, and selling his stake in October 2006 to Robert Earl.

Apollo Leisure Group

[edit]

Gregg's early career was in ABC cinema followed by a managing a Social Club at Cowley at the huge British Leyland site. Moving up north to Southport, Gregg became the Director of Tourism and Attractions for Southport. During his time working for Sefton Council, the Southport Theatre Complex was built adjacent to the Floral Hall venue. This provided the town with two venues that went on to host some huge stars performing that had never before been seen in Southport. Following his departure from Sefton and a brief post with the Prince of Wales Hotel group, an opportunity came in 1977, aged 36, to purchase the Ardwick Theatre in Manchester – soon followed by the New Theatre in Oxford – and so Apollo Leisure had lift off, and gradually over the following years Apollo became the biggest theatre owners/management team in the United Kingdom.

Gregg built his empire by taking over struggling venues and turning them round. The Liverpool Empire Theatre, which was losing £750,000 a year under the Derek Hatton led council, was leased to become a home to big musicals. Gregg also reopened the Lyceum in London in the 1990s at a cost of £14 million, after the theatre had been closed for 10 years. Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of Jesus Christ Superstar ran for two years, followed by Disney's The Lion King.[1] On 28 September 1982 in association with friend Bill Kenwright, Gregg co-produced a production of The Mikado at the Cambridge Theatre, London.[2]

The eventual portfolio of venues included The Point Theatre in Dublin, the Sheffield Arena and Wales National Ice Rink in Cardiff; as well as 23 theatres nationwide, including: Hammersmith Apollo, the Apollo Victoria and the Lyceum in London; the Bristol Hippodrome; the Edinburgh Playhouse; the Old Fire Station and Apollo in Oxford; Grand Opera House in York; the Opera House, Palace and Apollo Ardwick in Manchester; the Liverpool Empire and the Floral Hall in Southport. Apollo also owned Tickets Direct, which sold around £6 million theatre and concert tickets in 1999.

On 6 August 1999, Apollo accepted a takeover offer from the American entertainment corporation SFX for £158 million, because: "We were running a family business and suddenly we realised there were 5,000 people in the family."[1] Gregg and his family owned 80% of the company, and received between them £126 million worth of shares and loan stock in SFX.[3][4] SFX also agreed to acquire The Barry Clayman Corporation, 50% owned by the shareholders of Apollo, which promotes concert and entertainment events, and whose European tour artists include: Riverdance, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones.[5]

Paul Gregg stayed on, becoming European Chairman of the enlarged SFX group. Gregg approached producer David Ian to head up the theatre division, but Ian refused. After, the SFX Entertainment division was acquired by Clear Channel in 2000.[6] Gregg eventually persuaded Ian to join the group by absorbing Ian's joint venture with actor Paul Nicholas, and made Ian head of the European Theatre group before he left. Ian took over Gregg's role as European managing director of Entertainment at Clear Channel.[7]

Apollo Cinemas

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In 2004, Gregg bought back the Apollo Cinemas chain from Clear Channel for £23 million, before the European theatres were spun out into sister company Live Nation. Apollo instantly became the largest independently owned UK cinema chain, operating from 13 locations and having 78 screens and four bingo halls.

Apollo also announced plans to open London's first West End multiplex cinema in a decade. A new five-screen complex will be part of a £70 million scheme to enhance lower Regent Street. Four more new regional complexes are under development.

Together, cinemas and bingo generated pre-tax profits of about £1.5 million on turnover of £12.2 million in the year to 25 March 2004. From this, the Paul Gregg took £240,000 in dividends.[1]

Everton F.C.

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Paul Gregg invested £7 million in True Blue Holdings Ltd, which took the majority share holding in Everton F.C. in 2000 from former chairman Peter Johnson. Gregg first came to the attention of Everton fans, when he became the main driver behind the King's Dock scheme, promising to plough in an additional £30 million to get the project moving.

Apollo Resorts & Leisure

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Gregg's company recently won the first new large casino licence to be awarded in the UK winning the new licence for Manor Mills, Hull.[8] The company have just recently completed a successful application in Middlesbrough and are short listed for licences in Bath and Milton Keynes.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Guthrie, Jonathon. (31 August 2004) / Home UK / UK – Pure theatre on and off the football pitch. Ft.com.
  2. ^ Programmes/Ephemera Archived 20 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Gilbertandsullivanonline.com.
  3. ^ The latest British theatre news for 08/06/99 Archived 13 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Britishtheatreguide.info (6 August 1999).
  4. ^ "SFX ENTERTAINMENT INC, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date Nov 15, 1999". secdatabase.com. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  5. ^ SFX Entertainment Agrees to Acquire Leading U.K. Entertainment Provider Apollo Leisure Group. – Business Wire , 3 August 1999, via HighBeam archive] Archived 16 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Stage 125 :: Timeline :: 1980–present Archived 8 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ The Stage / Features / Seeing clearly – David Ian
  8. ^ Work Begins On Huge Hull Casino. Gamblingkingz.com.
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