Cross Oak Inns to buy Gourmet Holdings’ Bel and The Dragon pubs

Leisure Cross Oak Inns, the gastropub group, is reportedly in talks to acquire the Bel and The Dragon pub-restaurant chain.

The four Bel and The Dragon outlets, all in the Home Counties, were put up for sale in September by Gourmet Holdings, which bought the business in 2004 for about £10m.

Cross Oak Inns founded by Peter Eyles, the former Norfolk Capital Hotels and Hanover International chief recently bought its fourth pub, the Inn on the Pond in Nutfield, Surrey.

Earlier this month Gourmet sold two unbranded pubs to Fuller’s, The Five Bells at Stanbridge in Bedfordshire and the Talkhouse at Stanton St in Oxfordshire, for £2.85m.

Cross Oak Inns adds fourth pub site to portfolio >>

Cross Oak Inns closer to raising £3.3m expansion fund >>

Fuller's buys five pubs for £7.2m from Gourmet Holdings >>

Gourmet Holdings property director resigns >>

By Daniel Thomas

E-mail your comments to Daniel Thomas here.

Get your copy of Caterer and Hotelkeeper every week - click here to subscribe and save 25%.