Cougar Leisure, the bar business led by Julian Sargeson, has sold the freehold of the Townhouse pub in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside to Wear Inns.
The group — which earlier this year put 11 sites up for sale via Christie & Co — sold the property to Wear Inns, the north east of England-based pub operator, for an undisclosed sum.
Situated on a prominent corner site in the centre of Whitley Bay, the Townhouse is a large single bar operation with a first-floor function room, which has a wide range of clientele and a good following for sports events.
Wear Inns, which is headed by managing director John Weir and John Sands, the former head of Pubmaster, currently operates a further 14 wet-led managed freehold pubs based in secondary town centre locations across the region.
Weir said: "We continue to seek quality additions to our estate and have been on the expansion trail for the last 12 months. In that time, we have acquired eight managed houses from a variety of sources.
"The market has now reached a point where it makes sense to buy. We are particularly interested in former 'iconic' pubs that require some TLC."
Cougar was created from Herald Inns & Bars — in the wake of a pre-pack administration. Its turnover last year was £15.53m.