Hotel and pub chain Honeycombe Leisure has been approached by a third party, which may or may not lead to an offer being made for the Lancashire-based group.

Honeycombe – which owns 95 bars and hotels largely in the north of England – said: “Discussions are still at an early stage and there can be no certainty that any offer for the company will be forthcoming.”

It has been reported that Trevor Hemmings – owner of Pontins – could be the likely bidder for Honeycombe. Hemmings owns the private company Leisure Parcs, which owns Blackpool-based tourism assets including the Blackpool Tower and Circus, Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks, Winter Gardens Conference Centre and the Sea Life Centre, as well as hotels, amusement arcades and the three piers.

Hemmings has recently acquired Trust Inns and Herald Inns & Bars.