Punch sells clutch of Essex pub leases

Christie+Co has sold a number of new Punch Taverns pub leases throughout Essex.

The pubs include the Wheatsheaf, Chelmsford; the Green Man, Herongate; the Griffin, Danbury; the Anchor Inn, Hullbridge; the Haystack, Canvey Island and Seabright's Barn, Great Baddow.

The pubs are all from the Spirit Group, which Punch acquired in December 2005.

Another five pubs are due to complete in January. This year, Christie+Co released 727 former Spirit-managed houses to the lease market in three stages.

Bill Colquhoun, director of Christie+Co's Ipswich office, said: "The quality of many of these pubs is exceptionally good and they have generated great demand.

"We have had considerable success in finding retailers for these pubs, ranging from existing managers taking on their own pub to multiple operators.

"With the current severe shortage of quality freehouses, a leasehold pub can be an excellent way to acquire a thriving business for

substantially less than the freehold equivalent."