Gusto's two tie-free sites

Southampton-based pub group Gusto Inns has added another two sites to its portfolio, bringing its total to eight.

Group founder Maurice Toal has just completed on purchases of its first two free-of-tie leases, Chambers bar, in Southampton, and the Chough, in Salisbury.

Gusto bought Chambers, formerly a Bar Room Bar site, before that group went into administration, for an undisclosed sum. The sale was handled by Savills.

Gusto has now spent more than £100,000 on the pub's refurbishment, both inside and out. Toal said it was "beating the recession by acquiring and investing money in the right sites".

On 2 November Gusto will take over the Chough, which will be closed for several weeks for refurbishment. Chambers reopens this week and Toal said: "This is our first high street site, and we'll run it as an independent bar — we don't plan to use any Gusto logos."

The firm attracted more than 200 applicants for the 25 Chambers posts, and expects a similar response when it recruits at the Chough.

Gusto runs five Punch leased venues: three in Southampton, one in Oxfordshire and one in Reading.