Joule's Brewery buys two pubs from Punch

Joule's Brewery has bought two pubs from Punch Taverns bringing its total estate to 16.

The new sites are the 16th century Castle Hotel on Wem High Street, Shropshire and the Bricklayers Arms in Copthorne, Shrewsbury.

The pubs are the fourth and fifth to be bought from the pubco by Joule's.

Of the Castle Hotel, area manager Marie Poole said: "We have been chasing this site for months and are thrilled to have secured it. The pub is the oldest in Wem and full of character. We are looking forward to restoring it back to its roots as a coaching inn. We plan to start in 2010, until then the pub is trading normally."

Director Steve Nuttall said: "The Bricklayers is one of those pubs that has always been a great proper pub, a good looking real traditional pub - Punch tenant Lorriane Emberton will be transferring to Joules' and we are really pleased to have a chance to work with her and to meet the locals. We will invest in the site, but first we want to get to know the pub to make sure we do it right. It's the first Joules' house in Shrewsbury so its critical that we get this spot on."

A new brewery is currently being built in Market Drayton and is on target for completion by the end of the year.

The company came highly commended in CAMRA and English Heritage's Pub Design Awards in June for the refurbishment of the White Horse in Overton-on-Dee, North Wales.

The company acquired the pub's original plans and restored the layout and etched glass and leaded lights to match the original.

The company is also currently restoring the Fox and Hounds in Cheswardine, Shropshire, which is due to re-open in August.