The Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company (S&N) is offering a number of its pubs on free-of-tie, minimum 10-year leases through Christie & Co.

Spread across the UK, the group of 15 properties includes a variety of pubs from broad based community locals to village pubs and food houses. Most are in a good state of repair and currently being operated by temporary management companies. All will receive new investment ranging between £30,000 and £385,000. The move is designed to find licensees for the pubs, all of which have been on the market as tied leases for over four months. S&N believes that by offering the pubs free of tie, it will attract interest from a much larger pool of potential operators, including multiples, brewers wanting a market for their products, existing local free traders wanting another pub but without any capital outlay and tied lessees who want to try the 'free of tie' model.

S&N head of lessee training and recruitment, Andy Braithwaite said: "While the current economic situation has not significantly reduced the number of people interested in leasing a pub with us, it has made it more challenging for many applicants to get the funding they need. And, in these uncertain times, those with funding are taking longer over their decision making process, increasing the length of time pubs are on the market." He added: "Having a pub without a permanent lessee is not satisfactory for the individual business, the customers it serves or - given the overheads - for the company as a whole. It makes much more sense to protect the assets of the pub and get in a free of tie lessee to grow the business."