Three in running for Morse pubs

THREE pub firms have made it through to the second round of bidding for Inspector Morse's favourite pub chain, Morrells of Oxford.

Sources close to the sale said leisure company Noble House, Punch Taverns and brewer Greene King are looking at Morrells, which owns 131 pubs in the south of England and beer brands such as Varsity and Oxford Blue. The three are believed to have submitted bids of between £65m and £70m.

The successful bidder is likely to be announced at the end of this week.

Leisure entrepreneur Michael Cannon paid £48m for Morrells three years ago.

Noble House, headed by entrepreneur Robert Breare, is thought likely to sell on the tenanted pubs to Enterprise Inns.