Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), Greene King, Spirit and Starwood Capital, are amongst six perspective buyers for all or part of Orchid Pub Company, which came onto the market last year for £250m.
Mitchell & Butlers, owner of Harvester, Greene King and Spirit are likely to be primarily interested in Orchid’s food business, Pizza Kitchen and Bar which has been a notable success since launch and is set for further expansion. The food-led sites add up to around 170 sites.
Starwood will be joined by Colony Capital and an unnamed private equity firm to bid for the whole of the Orchid portfolio of 225 pubs.