Admiral Taverns snaps up 18 Marston’s pubs

Admiral Taverns has agreed to acquire 18 freehold pubs from Marston’s as it continues to expand its portfolio.

The wet-led, community pubs are located across the UK in counties including Dorset, Derbyshire and Yorkshire.

It will bring Admiral’s total estate to over 1,420 pubs and comes after the group bought 37 Fuller’s pubs for £18.3m in May this year.

Chris Jowsey, chief executive of Admiral Taverns, said: “The deal also highlights the positive momentum and real resilience we’ve seen in the sector, particularly across our wet-led community estate as people have used their local pubs in recent months to enjoy a summer of sport with both the Euros and the Olympics encouraging people to visit.”

The sale comes after a period of divestment for Marston’s. Last year the pub group said it was looking to raise £50m by selling off pubs to help reduce its debt.

It also sold 19 pubs to Red Oak Taverns in May and sold its 40% stake in a brewing joint venture with Carlsberg in July to create a business “entirely focused on pubs”.

Marston’s was advised on the deal by Noel Moffitt, senior director – pubs and restaurants at Christie & Co.