Dusanj brothers ranked at 91 in rich list

Owners of Cains brewery, Ajmail and Sudarghara Dusanj, have been listed at number 91 in a list of the 300 wealthiest Asian people in the UK. The Asian Rich List, published by Sunrise Radio, claims the brothers are worth £25.6m. It states: "The brewery and its 10 local pubs are worth just over £24m while the Dusanj property and private assets take their value to around £30.6m. Stripping out £5m of liabilities puts them at £25.6m." Cobra beer founder Karan Bilimoria is in 69th place on the list with a fortune put at £35m.

Offers received for 16 JDW properties

A total of 64 individual bids were received for the 16 JD Wetherspoon pubs being sold by property agent Fleurets.

The groups of pubs were centred around the south-east and included a selection of leasehold, long leasehold and one freehold. Cameron Campbell, of Fleurets, said: "Since marketing commenced in February we received 64 bids and can now confirm that all properties are under offer. Of those under offer, about half have been acquired by individuals, with the remainder going to small multiple operators."

Celtic marches south with £1m purchase

Tenanted pub company Celtic Inns has continued its expansion with the purchase of four further pubs in the south of England and Wales. It has invested in excess of £1m in the four pubs: the Jolly Farmer in Weybridge, the Yew Tree in Warminster, the Prince of Wales in Porthcawl and the Ship and Anchor in Fishguard. The purchases bring the number of pubs owned by the group to 61 as it seeks to build an estate of 100-plus tenanted community pubs in the next three years. The investments have been funded through a £10m acquisition fund that Celtic Inns secured last year from Sand Aire Private Equity and Royal Bank of Scotland.

Bar Budda opening takes outlets to 10

Scottish chain Bar Budda is opening a site in Kilmarnock ­ its 10th. The chain, founded by David Davidson has chosen the Ayrshire town after successful recent openings in smaller Scottish towns such as Helensburgh. Davidson claimed the investment required for a successful launch has spiralled dramatically since his first opening in 1994. He said: "When I opened the Brunswick Cellars in 1994, I spent £200,000 on the venue and £5,000 on the décor. "Today you would have to spend 10 times that to be a success in Glasgow. Our Dumbarton bar left us with little change from £1m while our first English venture cost £1.2m."

Mee joins Spirit as director of HR

Spirit Group has named Jayne Mee as its new human resources director. Mee was previously head of organisational development at Royal Mail Group and director of organisational development at Spirit Group. A spokesman said: "Jayne brings to the role her skills and experience in the pub and retail business and a proven track record in motivational and strategic thinking."

G1 Group's King seeks Edinburgh venue

Scottish entrepreneur Stefan King, the head of the G1 Group, has submitted plans to Edinburgh County Council to transform a 200-year-old building into a boutique hotel and nightclub. The opening would be King's first venture in the Scottish capital.

The venue would occupy a dilapidated building close to the Edinburgh Playhouse and house a cocktail bar, hotel restaurant and "niche market" nightclub.

Whitbread pushes Brewers to Gloucester

Whitbread is to spend £4.5m opening two Brewers Fayre outlets in the Gloucester area. A £3.5m pub-restaurant and 48-bed Premier Travel Inn hotel will be built next to Junction 11A of the M5 at Gloucester Business Park, Brockworth. Another Brewers Fayre restaurant on the former Cattle Market site at St Oswald's Park will cost £900,000.