Close Imperial Snaps Up Essex Freehouses

CLOSE Imperial Pub Company, the Enterprise Investment Scheme company headed by Tony Carson, has bought three freehold pubs for more than £3.5m.

The three new additions to the group’s estate are The Swan at Chappel, near Halstead, The Alma in Chelmsford, and The Angel at Stoke by Nayland, all high quality well known freehouses.

Funding for the acquisition of the three pubs came from the company’s first investment scheme – Close Imperial I, which was launched last February and raised just under £8 million.

It launched its second investment scheme Close Imperial II last April. The company acquired its first pub, the Crown Point in Sevenoaks in Kent in June last year, followed by Quilters bar in Colchester earlier this year.

The acquisition of the three Essex-based sites takes Close Imperial’s estate to five.

Anthony Jenkins, of agent Christie Co, said: “Tony sought Christie Co’s assistance and expertise in the corporate freehouse market to target high turnover quality properties in a tight geographic area for acquisition to the group.

“Due to EIS rules the funds needed to be accounted for by March this year and I am pleased to say we managed to acquire theses units within the tight timescale.”