Private equity firm buys Massive Pub Co

Private equity company Bridgehouse Capital has snapped up 33 Massive Pub Company sites that were in administration for an estimated fee of £8m.

The Massive sites, which include the the Tup sports bars, Auberge English pub and French restaurant chain and Thomas & Carter food-led pubs, had a turnover of £20.2m in the 12 months to 30 April 2007.

They will be run through Bridgehouse subsidiary Innventive Pubs and Restaurants.

The sale was handled by Grant Thornton, which had been overseeing the sites since the then-Massive Pub Company chief executive Peter Linacre put them into administration earlier this year.

Bridgehouse Capital, which purchased 37 Thistle Hotel sites for £987m in 2003, was advised by Bar Room Bar directors Tony and Ross Sanders.

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By Daniel Thomas

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