Laine Pub Co acquires Distinct Group

Regional brewer and operator Laine Pub Company has acquired the four-strong leasehold pub estate of the Distinct Group.

The deal, alongside the reopening of Laine’s Aeronaut pub in Acton, west London, has taken the Brighton and London-based operator’s estate to 60 sites.

Chris Bickle of Savills Licensed Leisure acted on behalf of the company in the acquisition of the estate.

High-quality pubs

Distinct Group sites acquired:

The Prince Albert in Camden, north west London

The Edward Lear in Holloway, north London

The Three Compasses in Hornsey, north London

The Adam & Eve in Mill Hill, north London

Laine Pub Company CEO Gavin George said: “The Distinct Group team have created an estate of high-quality pubs, which they have traded to an equally high standard.

“We are very excited to be welcoming the pub’s staff into the Laine’s family and are looking forward to applying our resources and experience to support them in meeting their trading aspirations.”

Distinct Group manager Gareth Leakey said: “Garry Pettet, Gavin George and Laine’s team have been very easy to deal with from the outset and I have no doubt that this is the start of an exciting journey for the Distinct pubs and the great staff that work within them.

"We weren’t actively pursuing a sale but as soon as we were introduced to Laine we knew that they were people that we could deal with, and I can’t wait to see what plans they have for our pubs and the fantastic people that work within them."

Latest acquisition

The acquisition was managed by Laine’s chairman Gary Pettet, who said: “We are delighted to have secured these excellent pubs for our estate and are pleased that they strengthen our presence north of the river, in fantastic locations.

“I would like to thank Leakey and the Distinct Group for the professional manner in which they handled the sale and I wish them well with their continued focus on hotel accommodation.”

Meanwhile earlier this year (April), Laine Pub Company bought the New Pub Company in a deal thought to be worth just under £4m.

New Pub Company operated seven pubs within the M25, all but one of which were transferred to Laine Pub Company through the transaction, which was overseen by estate agent Davis Coffer Lyons.

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