Greene King moves into Scotland

Greene King Pub Company has made its first move into Scotland, buying Fife-based Dalgety Taverns for an undisclosed sum.

The eight pubs will be converted to Greene King's Hungry Horse brand.

All the properties were built in the last six years. They will be refurbished and are expected to be operating under the Hungry Horse banner by the end of July.

Managing director of the managed arm of Greene King, Neil Gillis, said: "This is a very significant and strategic move. It makes us truly a national player.

"We're actually looking for more pubs in Scotland, both individual sites and groups. There's no-one really doing food-oriented, branded pubs and we think Hungry Horse will do very well up there."

The acquisition takes the number of Hungry Horse pubs to 135, with a projected turnover for the current financial year of £90m. Pre-prepared meals served on 17-inch plates account for 45% of the pubs' total turnover.

Dalgety Taverns' employees are being retained by Greene King at the pubs in Stirling, Aberdeen, Perth, Dundee, Kilmarnock, Fife, Livingston, and Kirkcaldy.