Welsh brewer and pub company, SA Brain, has acquired six new venues in the south of the Principality.

In the Mermaid Quay district of Cardiff Bay, the group has taken over the operation of Bar 38 and the nearby Via Fossa, both from Scottish & Newcastle.

The former Bar 38 has been renamed Salt and re-opened in mid-June following a programme of refurbishment to update the interior. It now reflects the style of a typical New England bar and also features a newly installed DJ station to ensure the bar’s appeal to different audiences at different times of day.

The Via Fossa is to be renamed the Terra Nova and will also undergo a period of refurbishment – albeit not as extensive as that at Salt – before reopening later in July.

In Swansea, the group has recently purchased four Beefeater outlets from the Whitbread Group.

Contracts have been exchanged on the Watermill in Ogmore, the Aubrey Arms in Bonvilston, the George in Mumbles and the Pump House on the city’s waterfront.

The four will continue operating as they are but will see the introduction of the Brain’s range of Welsh ales. The company plans on making "a significant investment" at all of them and will be undertaking a review of the respective businesses.

With the six new sites, the Brain estate has expanded to 223 pubs. Details: www.sabrain.co.uk