Rivals line up for Oxford local

INSPECTOR Morse's local may soon be under new ownership as rival pub groups battle it out for control of Morrells of Oxford. Laurel Pub Company, fresh from selling its tenanted pubs to Enterprise Inns, is the latest to join the race for the group.

Morrells, which was bought three years ago by leisure entrepreneur Michael Cannon, was put up for sale earlier this year, and has attracted interest from regional brewers as well as national pub companies.

Pubmaster, Enterprise Inns and Punch have all looked at the 131 managed and tenanted pubs, as have smaller firms such as Fuller Smith & Turner, Young & Co, and Shepherd Neame.

The sale of Morrells, priced at £80 million, is being handled by accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers. Morrells, with pubs across the south of England, shot to fame after scenes from the Inspector Morse television series were filmed in the company's pubs, notably the Old Bookbinders Ale House, Oxford, in the story The Dead of Jericho.

Real ale campaign group Camra described the pub, formerly known as The Bookbinders' Arms, as 'beer heaven' and it is a regular feature of Inspector Morse walking tours of Oxford. Morrells also owns beer brands such as Varsity and Oxford Blue.

Last week, Laurel Pub Company, owned by Morgan Grenfell Private Equity, sold its 1,860 tenanted pubs to Enterprise Inns for £875m, leaving it with 606 managed pubs, the fourth-largest managed estate in the UK.

Morgan Grenfell Private Equity is thought to be keen to expand its estate by acquisition. Laurel plans to spend heavily on its 200-strong Hogshead chain, changing it from specialising in real ales to a female-friendly brand.