Marston's buys the Bull Hotel

Marston's has brought the Bull Hotel at Downton, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, through Christie+Co. The freehold business sold off an asking price of £825,000 and was sold by the Hopback Brewery, a Wiltshire-based pubco with 10 tenanted sites.

Marston's is rapidly expanding its presence in the south of England following its acquisition of Ringwood Brewery in July and Eldridge Pope, comprising more than 100 outlets.

Hopback Brewery was established in 1986 when the private owners acquired their first public house, the Wyndham Arms in Salisbury.

Famous for brewing real ales, including the award-winning Summer Lighting, the group has grown steadily over the past few years. Hopback has taken the decision to sell the Bull Hotel in order to focus on expanding its wet-led, tenanted estate.

The two-storey, detached Bull Hotel was refurbished last year and incorporates a bar, dining area and function room. As well as owner and staff accommodation, there are three letting rooms on the first floor with planning permission for a further seven.

Christie+Co's Simon Chap-lin said: "This substantial, prime-sited business attracted a considerable amount of interest from a number of corporate purchasers, before the deal was agreed.

"We are certain that this will prove to be a valuable addition to the Marston's estate."