The Alex in Southend-on-Sea is an example of a chain pub - in this case a "Stonegate Pub company"[1] managed pub targeted at university students.
A pub chain is a group of pubs or bars operating under a unified brand image.[2] Pubs within a chain are tied houses and can, generally, only sell products which the chain owner sanctions. Pubs in a chain normally display their chain branding prominently and may also feature shared aspects, such as menus and staff uniforms.[3][4]
Pub chains can exist as a stand-alone operation, often called a pubco, or can be a division of a larger company, such as a brewery.[5]