Bett Inns sold in management buy-out

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Tenants and managers have been told it is "business as usual" at Bett Inns after their pubs changed hands in a management buy-out.Dundee-based...

Tenants and managers have been told it is "business as usual" at Bett Inns after their pubs changed hands in a management buy-out.

Dundee-based housebuilder Bett Brothers has sold its 15 pubs, three hotels and a nightclub to a team led by the division's managing director Gordon Whiting.

The £13m deal, which was backed by the Bank of Scotland, has been expected for some time, as reported on thePublican.com in May.

Mr Whiting said it would be "business as usual" for its licensees, who run managed and tenanted pubs mainly in the Dundee area.

The disposal allows Bett Brothers to focus on expanding its construction business outside of Scotland into the North of England.

Chief executive Ronnie Hanna said: "Bett Inns has been an important part of our group, but increasingly we have been concentrating on our housebuilding and property development activities."

Bett Inns' operating profits were £1.77m for the year to August 2000, which accounted for about 10 per cent of the overall group's revenue.

Mr Hanna said the pub business had been continuing to improve this year.