Italian restaurant chain Prezzo has bought 11 sites owned by Caffè Uno Brasseries for £3.1m.

The properties operate under the Caffè Uno (three restaurants), Il Bertorelli (two) and Brasserie Gerard (six) brands. Prezzo has also acquired - for an undisclosed sum - the Caffè Uno trade mark from its parent company, Paramount Restaurants, and granted Paramount a licence to continue using the brand name for a year.

Most of the properties involved are located in the south east of England and Home Counties. Although they will initially continue trading under their original brand name, the sites will ultimately be refurbished and reopened in early 2011 under one of Prezzo's existing brands or as Caffè Uno. Prezzo said it expects the acquisition "to be earnings enhancing following the completion of the refurbishment and rebranding programme".