SFI has bought 28 Parisa Cafe bars in a deal which will enable it to almost double the size of its Slug and Lettuce chain.

The SFI group (formerly known as Surrey Free Inns), which already owns bar chains Bar Med and The Litten Tree as well as 24 existing Slug and Lettuce outlets, will pay a total of up to £15m for the Parisa bars in a series of payments over two years. Over 20 of the Parisa bars will be converted into Slug and Lettuce outlets.

Chair of SFI, Tony Hill, said the acquisition was evidence that deals are still possible in difficult market conditions: 'We are confident that SFI management will quickly act value and that the acquisition will be earnings enhancing this year.'

The group will open 22 new high street bars during the current financial year, in addition to the 24 Parisa outlets to be converted to SFI core brands, bringing the total to 46 additional outlets this year. To fund the Parisa acquisition, SFI has reduced planned new openings in early 2002 by eight sites.