Rock-Inn buys ex-Spirit leases

The Bedford-based Rock-Inn Pub Company has kicked into life by acquiring new leases on three former Spirit pubs from Punch Taverns.

The pubs are the Star Inn in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, the Fish Inn in Northampton town centre and the Squirrels in Duston, Northamptonshire.

The Star Inn dates back to 1638 and stands in the Market Place in the heart of Woodstock, north of Oxford. The Fish Inn is located in Fish Street, on the main drinking circuit in Northampton town centre, and the Squirrels is a thatched stone property on the Main Road of the village of Duston, which lies about three miles west of Northampton.

Christie & Co's Charles Ward, who handled the sale, said: "We are delighted to have negotiated the sale of brand new leases on these three public houses to the Rock-Inn Pub Company. These three quality sites are ideal additions to their expanding group of pubs within the northern Home Counties."

The Star Inn carried an asking price of £25,000 for the leasehold and annual rent of £43,000. No premium was sought for the leasehold of the Fish Inn but the rent was £39,000 per annum, and the Squirrels was offered to the market at an asking price of £15,000 for the leasehold and annual rent of £49,000.

Rock-Inn is headed by James Maddison and Mark Manning.