New pubs for Amber Taverns

Northern managed operator Amber Taverns, headed by former Honeycombe Leisure directors James Baer and Bryan Wardman, has acquired two pubs in the past month.

It has just completed on the purchase of the freehold pub Ye Old Bookmaker in Redcar, Teesside, off an asking price of £250,000. Fleurets handled the sale.

The firm bought the freehold of the Pullman in Blyth, Northumberland, last month. Christie+Co handled the sale.

The two-storey wet-led Ye Old Bookmaker has an open-plan bar, pool room, two-bedroom private accommodation and car parking.

The Pullman comprises a 50-cover open-plan bar, beer garden and two-bedroom owner's accommodation.

The Preston-based firm saw turnover nearly double from £7.02m to £13.93m for the year to 31 January 2010. Pre-tax profit jumped from £167,121 in 2009 to £1.09m in the most recent year.

Amber began the year trading with 29 pubs, and added to that with the acquisition of 23 freehold pubs from the administrator of Cains Brewery.