Award-winning Cornish brewers, St Austell Brewery, has today (August 23^rd) announced the acquisition of five new pubs. 

The purchase from Enterprise Inns of The Albion in Bristol, the Blue Ball Inn in Exeter, the George Hotel in Plympton, the Rose & Crown in Yealmpton near Plymouth and the Cornish Arms in Tavistock brings St Austell Brewery’s portfolio to 173 across the south west. 

The deal follows a successful year for the family Brewery. Despite the pub industry as a whole witnessing a market decrease of 6% in beer sales in the first quarter of 2012^[1], volumes at St Austell Brewery have continued to rise; with Tribute Ale at the forefront of this growth. 

The sale of these former Enterprise Inns to St Austell Brewery was completed off market for an undisclosed price. 

Adam Luck, Estate Director of St Austell Brewery, said: “The acquisition of five new pubs is an exciting addition to our portfolio. The purchases form part of the Brewery’s on-going investment programme to develop our pub estate and our presence across the south west of England. 

“Bristol is a particularly exciting area for us. The Albion will be our first pub in the city and it’s an area that presents a great opportunity to develop both our beer sales in the pub estate and the free trade business following the appointment of an area sales manager in Bristol, earlier in the year,” he continued. 

All five pubs, which are in prime locations, will list St Austell Brewery’s range of award-winning ales and will continue to operate as leases with the existing lessees in place.  

Adam added: “We are looking forward to welcoming the current lessees into the St Austell Brewery family and adding the new pubs to our existing portfolio of well-loved inns across the region.”

^[1] Results from research by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA)