FSP advises Heartstone Inns on sale of seven pubs to Punch

A team at FSP led by corporate partner Penelope Garden and commercial property partner Dean Bickford have advised longstanding client Heartstone Inns on the sale of seven pubs to Punch Pubs & Co for an undisclosed sum. The package of pubs is spread across southern England and comprises The Cricketers, The Diggers Rest, The King Alfred, The Owl, The Pelican, The Bathurst Arms and The Talbot.

Heartstone, which is led by co-founder James Birch, will continue to operate its remaining eight pubs.

James Birch, managing director of Heartstone Inns, said: “We are delighted to have sold seven of our pubs to Punch. As a result, we can continue to develop and expand our remaining estate of large, food-led, managed pubs. We would like to thank our transferring staff for their loyalty and hard work and wish them, their customers and Punch the very best for the future.”

He added “My thanks to the whole team at FSP for all of their help and perseverance in ensuring a successful completion of this transaction.”

Penelope and Dean were assisted by Ian Wood-Smith (partner, corporate), Richard Higgs (partner, real estate), Vicky McDonald (associate, real estate), Joanna Stepien (solicitor, real estate), Immy Suthar (solicitor, corporate) and David Clay (associate, employment).