Town & City Pub Company has bought back around 81 pubs and bars, formerly part of the Laurel Pub Group, from insolvency specialists Kroll.

Robert Tchenguiz, the owner of Town & City, placed Laurel and its 383 pubs and restaurants into the hands of Kroll in March 2008. He then formed Town & City and the Bay Restaurant Group to acquire assets from within the former Laurel business, which included 293 units (132 restaurants and 161 pubs/bars).

Of the 293 units, 104 were subject to a conditional purchase agreement and in the meantime were operated under a transitional service agreement with Town & City. This latest deal has seen Tchneguiz regain all, except ten, of these former Laurel sites.

Of the final ten, JD Wetherspoon has bought five sites and Inventive Leisure - operator of Revolution Vodka Bar - has bought one.

A spokesperson for Town & City said: "We have successfully concluded a deal to acquire a number of additional sites from the administrators. These sites were not included in the original acquisition since their sale was subject to landlords’ consent. We are delighted to welcome these sites back within the business."

Bay Restaurant Group runs 84 Slug & Lettuce premises, 24 Ha Ha bar and grills and 85 La Tasca restaurants.

The Town & City Pub Company has taken on 161 pubs and bars, mainly comprising of Yates.