A PUB operator has completed the purchase of a number of Hertfordshire pubs from family-run brewery McMullen’s reports The Comet.

Punch Pubs & Co has agreed a deal to buy 30 pubs across Hertfordshire and Essex, including the Millstream and Great Eastern Tavern in Hertford and the George IV in Sawbridgeworth.

A spokesperson for the new owners confirmed it will be “sharing the complete pub list once we’ve met all of the teams internally”.

“We’re delighted to have completed the acquisition of these pubs from McMullen’s,” said James Croft, group strategy and commercial director at Punch Pubs & Co.

“This is a fantastic collection of pubs with real heritage, strong community roots and proven operators running them day to day, and we look forward to welcoming them into the Punch family.

“Our focus remains on long-term partnerships, investing in our pubs and supporting our publicans and management partners to help their businesses succeed as we work towards being the five-star pub company.”

McMullen’s said the future stewardship of the pubs and their publicans was central to its decision to sell to Punch Pubs & Co.

Tom McMullen, joint managing director of McMullen’s, added: “There are some phenomenal independent operators in these businesses, and it was important to us that they transferred to an owner who possesses both the scale and strategic direction necessary to offer improved support, and is willing and able to provide the financial commitment that these pubs deserve.

“We are also grateful to our tenanted operations team who have continued to grow this part of the business and are supporting through the transition.”