Exclusive: Realpubs buys 14th pub

Realpubs, the London pub operator founded by Malcolm Heap and Nick Pring that has back from private equity firm Brockton Capital, has bought the freehold of its 14th pub.

The company has bought The Vine pub on Highgate Road in Kentish Town for an undisclosed price

The Realpubs estate now consists of 14 high quality, food-led London pubs, of which 13 are freehold — the other one is a free-of-tie

The Vine, a grand Edwardian pub on the Highgate Road, benefits from a large beer garden and a great local catchment area, sitting on the border of Kentish Town and Dartmouth Par).

The plan is to invest around £400,000 in the pub and beer garden in the New Year to reposition the offer towards the Realpubs style — offering quality food and friendly service in a relaxed classic pub setting.

Malcolm Heap said: "The Vine represents another hand-picked addition to the Realpubs business. We continue to assess multiple new opportunities within London with the aim of growing the estate through selective acquisitions.

"The existing business is generating double-digit like-for-like sales growth in 2010, and we are very excited about growing The Vine on the same trajectory."

The private vendor of the Vine was advised on the sale by Paul Tallentyre of Davis Coffer Lyons.