Punch Pubs buys 30 sites from McMullen's

Punch Pubs & Co has completed the acquisition of 30 pubs from brewer and pub operator McMullen’s.

The 1,300-site operator told Pub & Bar that the new pubs, located predominantly across Hertfordshire and Essex, "boast strong trading histories, distinctive heritage and established positions at the heart of their local communities".

The McMullen pubs include the Millstream (Hertford), Great Eastern Tavern (Hertford) and the George IV (Sawbridgeworth).

"We’re delighted to have completed the acquisition of these pubs from McMullen’s," says James Croft, group strategy and commercial director at Punch Pubs & Co. "This is a fantastic collection of pubs with real heritage, strong community roots and proven operators running them day to day, and we look forward to welcoming them into the Punch family.

"Our focus remains on long-term partnerships, investing in our pubs and supporting our publicans and management partners to help their businesses succeed as we work towards being the five-star pub company."

Looking to the future

McMullen’s says the future stewardship of the pubs and their publicans was central to its decision-making.

"There are some phenomenal independent operators in these businesses, and it was important to us that they transferred to an owner who possesses both the scale and strategic direction necessary to offer improved support, and is willing and able to provide the financial commitment that these pubs deserve," adds Tom McMullen, joint managing director of McMullen’s. "We are also grateful to our tenanted operations team who have continued to grow this part of the business and are supporting through the transition."

So far this financial year, Punch has purchased 35 pubs.

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