Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company (S&NPC), the management arm of Heineken UK, has denied industry rumours that it's giving up its contract to run 279 tenanted pubs on behalf of Piccadilly Licensed Properties Limited.
A spokesman said: "Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company has a contract in place to manage and supply the pubs owned by Piccadilly Licenced Properties (PLP).
"S&NPC does not own these pubs and is therefore not in a position to dispose of them.
"Any enquires regarding the ownership of these pubs needs to be directed to PLP.
"In the meantime, it is business as usual and we are remain fully committed to undertaking the efficient management of the estate; and supporting the tenants within it."
Brewer Marston's sold 279 pubs to Piccadilly Licensed Properties (PLP) for £82.5m in May 2007. S&NPC runs around 2,000 pubs on behalf of third party owners.