Pubs group Punch Taverns is seeking new tenants for three pubs in the Huddersfield area.
The Stag at Wakefield Road, Dalton, the White Hart in Denby Dale and the Shoulder of Mutton at Mirfield are among 21 Punch-owned pubs across the country being marketed for new lettings by specialist property agency Fleurets on behalf of Punch.
Property agent Fleurets, who are marketing the pubs, also has three more Huddersfield pubs up for sale.
They are The Zetland in Queensgate; the Ship in Paddock and The Queen in Manchester Road, Milnsbdridge.
The company said substantial investment was planned by Punch for the Stag Inn and the White Hart by Punch to help new tenants get off to a strong start.
It is understood both pubs would be fully refurbished with spending of about £140,000 on The Stag and about £150,000 on the White Hart.
At The Stag, a small catering kitchen will be upgraded as part of Punch’s planned investment and the toilets will also be improved. The outdoor space, which includes a small courtyard surrounded by metal railings, will also be improved as part of the proposed makeover with the addition of a smoking area.
At the White Hart, Punch plans to improve the interior and upgrade the external appearance, including beer garden and signage, with further investment into creating a catering kitchen.
Simon Hall, director and head of agency at Fleurets, said: “These new lettings offer the opportunity for publicans to secure high profile sites across the country on new leases and in many cases the landlord plans a major refurbishment of the site in tandem with the operator.”
The hunt for new tenants comes just weeks after a move by Parliament to reform the way pub companies operate by introducing a market rent only option for tenants and leaseholders operating under ‘pubcos’.
A spokesman for Punch said: “The pub market has, in the last 12 months, shown signs of recovery with the market stabilising following the long standing effects of the smoking ban and the recession.
“We continue to receive a record number of applications from potential licensees wanting to operate our pubs and we have invested over £150m refurbishing our pubs in the last three years providing them with a sustainable platform for future growth.
“However, the decision of Parliament to compel companies to offer a market rent only option and the confusion which surrounds the way the Bill will work in practice has again created a level of unwelcome uncertainty in the industry.”
Punch Taverns is one of the UK’s biggest pub companies with about 4,000 leased and tenanted pubs nationwide.
