Pub company Punch Taverns' namesake up for sale

Punch Taverns' namesake in Fleet Street, London, has been put on the market.

The Punch Tavern, the birthplace of satirical magazine Punch in 1841, and once a popular Fleet Street journalist hang-out, is for sale through property agents Christie + Co.

Interested parties will need to make an offer in excess of £275,000 for the leasehold interest in the boozer, which has a current rent of £55,000.

Located in the heart of the City, the Victorian Grade II-listed building retains many original features such as the Mr Punch sign over the pub's entrance and a Punch and Judy theme throughout.

It is currently operated by licencees Sunnil Panjabi and John Taylor

The Tavern is a one off disposal separate to some 700-plus former Spirit-owned pubs currently being prepared to let through Christie's on behalf of Punch Taverns.

• A report today in The Times claims that Punch Taverns is preparing to dispose of around 1,000 of its 9,300 pubs ahead of the forthcoming smoking ban in England this summer. Last year rival Enterprise Inns sold 769 sites to Admiral Taverns and Marston's has recently placed 280 pubs on the market.

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By Chris Druce

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