Talks to sell end as Laurel restructures

Laurel Pub Company has signalled the end of talks to sell as many as 150 sites by re-structuring its business.

The company had been involved in discussions to sell slightly less than half of its estate during the summer, leaving it with about 200 venues.

Executive chairman Ian Payne said the company ended the talks more than a month ago. "We're not in discussions with anyone,' he said.

Laurel's main strategic focus will be investing in Slug & Lettuce and Ha! Ha! Bar & Canteen. The company has another 16 sites that it plans to convert to Slug & Lettuce to boost the size of the brand to 68 venues - it has spent £5m opening new sites this summer.

Meanwhile, new chief executive Paul Symonds, who arrived less than a month ago, has unveiled a host of key appointments and a new internal structure for Laurel. Circuit and Town Local have been brought together to form a new Pubs and Bars division, with 300 outlets split geographically into three areas - North, Midlands and South. It will be headed by new managing director Toby Smith, who is joining the company from Spirit.

Quality Food will be split into two divisions - Slug & Lettuce and Ha! Ha! Bar & Canteen. Mary Sharp will head up Slug & Lettuce. A new appointment to lead

Ha! Ha! will be announced at the end of October.

"It's important that each brand fully develops its own personality and customer base, and takes trade from the competition," said Symonds. "Food will be the key driver for the business."

Other new appointments include Perry Huntley as new head of food development and Clare Martin,

formerly head of marketing at JD Wetherspoon, as brand development manager.

"My reorganisation brings a shift in emphasis," said Symonds. "Food is the main driver for the business

and we have a huge opportunity to push on and substantially grow our overall food sales."