Industry data: Top pub groups in the UK
18 October 2006 by Angela Frewin
Punch Taverns regained its position as the UK's leading pub operator in 2006 after bumping up its numbers to 9,271 following its re-acquisition of the Spirit Group.
The next largest groups were Enterprise Inns, Wolverhampton & Dudley, and Greene King.
These figures are reported in British Hospitality: Trends and Statistics 2006, published by the British Hospitality Association.
The full report can be bought for £195 (for the printed version) or £145 (for a PDF file). For enquiries or orders, phone 0207 404 7744 or contact bob.bacon@bha.org.uk.
TOP PUB GROUPS IN THE UK, 2006
| Owner | Number of outlets | Selected brands | |
| 1 | Punch Taverns](http://www.punchtaverns.com/Punch) | 9,271 | |
| 2 | [Enterprise Inns](http://www.enterpriseinns.com/home/home_flash.html) | 8,652 | |
| 3 | [Wolverhampton & Dudley](http://www.wdb.co.uk/Default.asp)[](http://www.caffenero.com/) | 2,544 | Pitcher & Piano |
| 4 | [Greene King](http://www.greeneking.co.uk/)[](http://www.marksandspencer.com/) | 1,512 | |
| 5 | [Mitchells & Butlers](http://www.mbplc.com/) | 1,389 | Ember, Scream, O'Neills |
| 6 | [Admiral Taverns](http://www.admiraltaverns.co.uk/) | 1,214 | |
| 7 | Wellington Pub Co[](http://www.nestle.co.uk/Home) | 851 | |
| 8 | [London & Edinburgh Inns](http://www.swallowinns.co.uk/)\* | 795 | |
| 9 | [Pubfolio](http://www.pubfolio.co.uk/)[](http://www.tchibo.co.uk/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/uk/-/GBP/TdUkStorefront-Start) | 782 | |
| 10 | [JD Wetherspoon](http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/) | 646 | |
| 11 | [Trust Inns](http://www.trustinns.co.uk/)[](http://www.amtcoffee.co.uk/) | 506 | |
| 12 | [Daniel Thwaites](http://www.thwaites.co.uk/) | 424 | |
| 13 | [Laurel Pub Company](http://www.thwaites.co.uk/)[](http://www.morellis.com/morelligo.html) | 401 | Yates', Hogshead |
| 14 | [Frederic Robinson](http://www.fredericrobinson.co.uk/)[](http://www.esquirescoffee.com/) | 394 | |
| 15 | [Shepherd Neame | 375 |
