Fuller's snaps up Hampshire pub

London brewer Fuller's has bought a pub in Hampshire and confirmed that it is on the look out for other pubs along the south coast. The Wine Vaults in Southsea was acquired for an undisclosed sum and will be run as a managed house focusing on home-cooked fresh food and the brewer's cask ales. Retail director Simon Emeny said: 'We will be looking to build on its existing good reputation. We are keen to expand into this area and the purchase of the Wine Vaults gives Fuller's a foothold in the south Hampshire area and the Portsmouth area is a key location. We are always on the look out for suitable sites.

Peninsula Inns acquired in MBO

Peninsula Inns, the West Country pubco with 25 outlets, has been acquired under a management buy out. Managing director David Bayliss, finance director Stephen Grant and operations director Nigel Jewell led the MBO, which was funded by banking giant HSBC. It was bought off an asking price of £5.6m for the chain, which has outlets stretching from Kingsbridge in south Devon to Bradford-upon-Avon in Wiltshire. Peninsula was sold by Barry Fryer, who founded the company in 1992.

Laurel revamps two Ha! Ha! Bars

Laurel is revamping two Ha! Ha! Bar & Canteen outlets that it inherited following the acquisition of the Yates Group. The venues are in Millennium Square in Leeds and San Sebastian Square in Plymouth. A new outlet will be built in the centre of Oxford, bringing the total investment to £3m. Currently, there are 25 Ha! Ha! outlets in the country.

BHA boss calls for lower licence fees

Smaller businesses should pay lower licence fees, according to the British Hospitality Association. BHA chief executive Bob Cotton said small hotels and restaurants with a high rateable value, but relatively low alcohol sales, will pay more in licence fees than they make in profit from selling alcohol. Cotton wants low alcohol volume outlets to be granted reduced fees for the premises licence.