Tenants become owners of the pubs they ran for many years

Two tenants have become the owners of the pubs they have run for many years.

In Newcastle, Colin Sidney jumped at the chance to buy the freehold interest of the Independent in Elnswick Road when his former landlord, Enterprise Inns, put the business on the market.

The pub, which was marketed by Christie & Co, was one of a package of 176 pubs Enterprise was selling as part of the on-going churning of its estate. It was sold off an asking price of £50,000.

Meanwhile, in Bettws, Newport, Gwent, Nightingales (pictured)​ was sold on behalf of Unique Pub Company to tenant Janet Grenter-Prosser.

Ms Grenter-Prosser had been a tenant at the pub for nearly a decade and said she had always wanted to buy the pub.

Now she has decided to refurbish the pub, starting with the 120-cover function room.

David Owen, associate director of Christie & Co, who negotiated the sale, said: "We are delighted that Janet has now realised her dream.

"With her local expertise she will undoubtedly make a success of what is a substantial purpose-built 1960s pub, adjoining a shopping precinct, in the middle of a well-populated part of Newport."

Nightingales was sold off an asking price of £110,000 for the long leasehold interest.