An 18th Century pub in Leek has been acquired by an independent pub company based in Burton upon Trent.
The Red Lion will join Punch Pubs & Co’s Leased and Tenanted estate following the deal.
The Market Place pub will continue to be run by the Baines family, headed up by Lucille and Paul, alongside their daughters Elle and Molly, who have been at the helm for almost five years.
Punch Pubs & Co Head of Acquisitions Andrew Cannons commented: “The Red Lion is another excellent addition to the Punch portfolio, and we’re delighted to be retaining the team there.
“This pub already has a brilliant reputation within the community, and I do not doubt that with the guidance and support of experienced Operations Manager, Peter Kilpatrick, The Red Lion will continue to thrive for many years to come.”
The acquisition comes as Punch celebrates having acquired 35 community pubs during its 2024/25 financial year with plans to expand further.
Punch says this expansion highlights its ‘unwavering commitment’ to enhancing the pub experience across the UK.
Its portfolio is now made up of more than 1,300 pubs nationwide.
Andrew added: “2025 is shaping up to be a transformative year for Punch, and we’re not slowing down any time soon.
“We’re aiming to double our single-site acquisition run rate over the next 12 months. With more single-site and package acquisitions already in the pipeline, we remain fully committed to growing our estate and welcome all discussions – whether for packages or single-site opportunities.”
