Marston's buys four pubs for £5.5m
Marston's Pub Company (MPC) is looking for new licensees to run four "flagship" pubs it bought this week from the Rutland Pub Company for £5.5m.
The pubs are located in rural areas of Rutland, Warwickshire and Lincolnshire. MPC said they are renowned for excellent food, ales and wine. They also have bed and breakfast accommodation.
Operations director Andrew Andrea said: "This is a particularly exciting acquisition as these are proper pubs that are focused on great food and excellent service. As a company they are an absolute perfect fit for us - not least because we are committed to driving standards across our estate and this sort of acquisition is an important part of that process.
"Also, food is an increasingly important part of any pub business and the fact that all four pubs have successful restaurants makes them even more attractive."
The Marquess of Exeter, which is near Uppingham, Rutland, is a sixteenth century former coaching inn, with 16 en-suite bedrooms, 150 capacity function room, 100-cover restaurant, snug and bar. Although it has been completely refurbished Marston's Pub Company is planning to spend an additional £50,000 on the building.
The Blue Ball Inn, Braunston, Rutland, is the county's oldest pub. It's a two-storey, seventeenth century thatched building, with a 60-cover restaurant.
The Blue Boar Inn, Alcester, Warwickshire, dates back to the early 1600s. It has already been extensively refurbished, with 13 letting bedrooms, a restaurant with 80 covers and bar.
And the Hare & Hounds in Fulbeck, near Grantham, is a Grade II listed building. It has a 100-cover restaurant and reputation for real ales and locally sourced food. Marston's Pub Company plans to invest around £125,000 to convert a stable block into letting rooms and create an external area.
Andrea added: "Our priority now is to find the right licensees to drive these businesses forward. We're looking for experienced operators, who are keen to take on what we believe will be flagship pubs within our estate.
"All four offer real potential and the opportunity to take on a traditional pub that represents the best things about this industry - great ale, great food and a great sense of the local community."
For more information about these four pubs contact Mike Atkins at MPC on 07817 584 908.
