Tenanted pub operator, Avebury Taverns, has bought eight pubs from Greene King and Noble House for £6m.

The group, which is majority-owned by Credit Suisse First Boston and which has recently taken direct control of its interest in the pub company after the expiry of a contract to manage the investment, made the deals for the eight pubs within a few days of each other.

The pubs include sites in Durham and Salisbury and are described by Avebury as “high quality managed houses”.

Managing director, David Myers, said: “Whilst we are constantly looking at larger packages of pubs, our commitment to target better quality houses also allows us to invest time in considering small groups of high-performance pubs, and even individual sites.”

Avebury Taverns is currently on course to deliver profits in excess of £9m on the year ending 30 September 2003, which will mark an increase of almost 30 per cent on 2002 figures and up for the fifth successive year since the company was formed in 1997. Details: www.aveburypubs.co.uk