Our executive team mix a breadth and depth of knowledge within the industry to help drive forward our commitment to growing our company.

James Spragg
Chief Executive
James has been involved in the leisure industry for the last 14 years working for Allied Domecq, Scottish and Newcastle, Whitbread and more recently as Commercial Director for Novus Leisure.

In January 2008, James teamed up with the investment firm Agilo to buy Sports Café out of administration. In March 2008, CanDu Entertainment was also bought out of administration and the two groups were put together to form Yellowhammer Bars.

Hilary Thomas
Director of Finance
Hilary has been involved within the leisure industry in senior finance roles for almost 25 years and has worked for Whitbread Group finance, Richardsons Inns, Barracuda Bars, Rileys Snooker Halls, Allied Leisure Ltd and Megabowl Ltd.

Hilary joined CanDu Entertainment Ltd as Deputy Finance Director in January 2007 and was appointed Director of Finance at Yellowhammer Bars in July 2008.

Derek Parfitt
Head of Personnel and Health & Safety
Derek runs a number of Business Services companies covering Finance, Business Consulting, Personnel Management, and Leadership Training. The client base encompasses Aviation, Insurance, Leisure, Food manufacturing and Property. Prior to this Derek held Director positions with Morrels, Green King and The Magic Pub Company. Having started out as a Physist he moved sectors to be an Analyst in the City prior to catching the Night Club bug and joining Mecca prior to its purchase by Rank.

Carl Anderson
Operations Director
Carl has worked in the industry for 20 years, His Management career began as a Trainee Manager with the Rank Origination where he stayed for 9 years. He then joined First Leisure before moving on to Luminar PLC, where he held an number of position including, Divisional Business Development Manager – Carl then became part of the Management buy out team that would become CanDu Entertainment which was acquired by Agilo in March 08.

Ben Parr
Operations Director
Ben starting in clubs as a barman whilst at university for ‘First Leisure’ and quickly moved through the ranks before moving to CanDu Entertainment as one of the industry’s youngest general managers at the age of 21 at Mojos and the Beach in Chesterfield. 

After excelling in this position, Ben was quickly promoted to Business Development Manager to help support company developments on our North region. In August 2008, he took over the East region for Yellowhammer Bars, where he developed and launched our new brand ‘Groove’ in Northampton.

David Thornton
Operations Director
David started working in the industry in 1995 for a small Luminar Leisure, starting in Great Yarmouth and then moving on the run the companies founding venue Manhattans II in Kings Lynn.

Over the following 10 years David went on to run 10 nightclubs for Luminar, working on several buy outs and refurbishments including the Hippodrome in London.

David went on to work with the CanDu buy out prior to the Agilo acquisition, more recently he worked successfully on the Groove developments in Ipswich, Northampton & Milton Keynes which led to his appointment as Business Development Manager. In 2009 he was appointed as Operations Manager and now runs 6 bars and clubs for Yellowhammer.