Churchill Taverns sale imminent?

Churchill Taverns, the Northamptonshire-based group which operates 24 managed pubs across the county, is believed to be close to selling up.

Thepublican.com​ understands that the outcome of a strategic review launched by the company last December is only a matter of weeks away, with a sale a likely option.

Pub sector finance expert Peter Hansen, of Sapient Corporate Finance, is believed to be handling the sale process, and a number of "interested parties" including Bedford-based brewer Charles Wells are said to be in the running to buy the business.

Final bids were to be in by last Friday, according to sources.

Churchill Taverns was founded in 1998 by industry veteran Fred Ward and the group is backed by Close Ventures, a London-based venture capital outfit. Ward is understood to have wanted to sell the business for some time.

The majority of the group's pubs are freehold, while four sites are leased from Enterprise Inns.

Hansen was unavailable for comment at the time of writing this story.