l Po Na Na administrator Grant Thornton has received a "lot

In the meantime, outlets that are open are trading as normal and we are quite satisfied with their trading levels." The company was forced into administration after trading in its AIM shares were suspended and the Royal Bank of Scotland refused to extend credit. l Laurel Pub Company is stepping up redevelopment of its 100-strong Hogshead estate with the conversion of a tranche of 10 pubs this month to a new service style that has proven successful at an initial 15 sites. The company now expects to have completed the conversion of all 100 sites by August 2004 ­ assuming conversions continue to match trading figures achieved at the early sites. Those being converted this month include pubs in Southampton, Uxbridge, Salisbury, Harrogate, Newport and Didsbury. l Independent pub group Celtic Inns has increased its portfolio with the addition of three further pubs in Wales. Previously individually owned and managed, the recent acquisitions ­ the Caurau, Ely, Cardiff, the Kings Head, Lampeter and the Plough, Morriston ­ take the firm's total to more than 50 pubs in Wales. These latest acquisitions form part of Celtic Inns' steady expansion plans for the next three years, which will see the business develop to include between 250 and 300 tenancies. l Manchester brewer Hydes has appointed Luke Milner as retail director. Milner, who has 15 years' experience in the pub industry, having previously worked for Bass, Tom Cobleigh and Eldridge Pope, will be responsible for the overall operation of Hydes' 39 managed houses and 31 tenancies throughout the north west. He said: "This is a fantastic and rare opportunity to join a dedicated local brewer and pub operator with an excellent estate of pubs which has the ability and strong desire to expand." l Festival Inns has outlined an ambitious plan to open 30 bars over the next three years. Festival now has an annual turnover of more than £20m and has reached its initial target of opening 20 outlets by 2003. To drive the rapid expansion the company has appointed two new directors to its main board. Bill McRandle, formerly of Carlsberg-Tetley, has been made business development director. Operations manager Iain Pert is being made operations director on Festival's board.