Bristol-based brewery and pub brand Butcombe has acquired two sites from family-run South West business OHH Pub Company.
Liberation Group-owed Butcombe has added The Northey Arms in Box, Wiltshire, and The Rising Sun in Backwell, North Somerset, to its estate of pubs and inns in the West Country. Liberation runs more than 120 pubs, bars and inns across the South West and Channel Islands.
Butcombe said it would incorporate the acquired sites, and all the staff, into its existing portfolio as part of the deal. The company also said it intended to invest "substantial capital" into both of the venues to support future growth.
Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of Liberation Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome these fantastic pubs to the Butcombe side of the family. These two new sites are a great fit for us, both geographically and operationally, and they offer an exciting opportunity for us to deliver our award-winning food, drink and hospitality experience to locals and visitors alike.”
Last month, Liberation Group told BusinessLive it was planning to buy up more venues across the region in 2022 as part of an “ambitious investment programme” following the pandemic.
Mr Lawson added: “We look forward to welcoming the teams on board and working closely with them to implement our ambitious plans. Thanks to OHH Company, headed up by Mark Warburton, they’re both well established and popular local pubs with excellent reputations.”
Last year, The Liberation Group reported a sales recovery for both its pub and drinks divisions following the easing of national lockdown, but warned of “additional costs and lost opportunity” due to recruitment and supply chain issues.
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