FIVE PUBS in the Bradford district have been sold in a £41 million deal which involves more than 100 locals across the UK.

The five were part of a deal completed by Anchor Taverns involving the acquisition of 150 outlets in the Star Pubs and Bars group totalling £41,330,000.

The pubs in Bradford district are: The Holme Lane, Tong Street, Bradford; The Top House, Odsal, Bradford; The Black Swan, Frizinghall Road, Bradford; Star Inn, York Street, Bingley; and Cavendish Hotel, Cavendish Street, Keighley.

Admiral have also reached a deal to buy 137 pubs from Marston’s in a £44.9m deal.

The company says the deals are part of its growth strategy to become a leading operator of community pubs.

All the pubs are thought to be operating as normal but three of them – the Black Swan, the Star and Cavendish Hotel – are listed on the Admiral website as available for a new tenant.

The acquisitions have taken the pub company’s estate to more than 1,000 hostelries.

Commenting on the Star deal, Chief executive Chris Jowsey said: “We are delighted to announce another step forward in our strategies and ambitions for the business.

“Admiral has a strong track record of integrating new acquisitions and these new pubs will significantly increase our presence across the UK.

“Core to Admiral’s approach is our commitment to invest behind our pubs and licensees, supporting them to build vibrant social hubs that can thrive at the heart of their local communities.

“Through this acquisition we are delighted to bring so many new dedicated licensees into our business.

“On behalf of the team I would like to officially welcome them all to Admiral and look forward to building our long-term working relationships.”

Marston’s said the disposal of their 137 pubs was in line with its plans to reduce its debt in part through the disposal of certain non-core assets. The assets being sold were smaller wet-led leased, tenanted and franchised pubs.

Admiral Taverns describes itself as the UK’s number one community pub group of high-quality “sustainable, individual and authentic wet-led pubs”.

A spokesperson for Admiral Taverns said they could not comment on individual pub names from the deals so they could not confirm their sale.