A POPULAR Hyndburn pub and restaurant has been sold as part of a £9million deal.

Midlands-based Mercury Inns has bought the Walton Arms at Altham from Lakeland brewer and pub operator Jennings.

Mercury's massive move into the North West involves taking over 15 managed houses. However, Jennings is not selling the Dog and Otter in Great Harwood.

Mark Butler, managing director of Mercury Inns - part of the Mercury Management (UK) conglomerate based in Tamworth, Staffordshire - said: "Walton Arms customers will not see any changes, apart, we trust, from even better food and service. We are not planning to change the manager or the staff.

"We believe strongly that our pubs should be individual - they will be unbranded."

Mercury Inns has been busy developing food-led pubs in the South and Midlands. This is its first move into Lancashire, Mr Butler said.

He added that because they had important links with the country's major brewers the Walton Arms would offer a wide range of beers. But it would also aim upmarket with an emphasis on wine retailing.

Jennings said the 18 pubs it had sold had a total turnover last year of £7.5million, averaging nearly £500,000 each. Chairman John Rudgard said the pub sales would be completed in about three months. "That is significantly faster than envisaged, realising an amount very much in line with our expectations," he added.

Mercury Inns will also be taking over the Corporation Arms in Longridge.