Following a review of its estate, the Pioneer Pub Company is to initiate a £3m pre-Christmas investment programme in order to boost the potential of its unbranded pub estate and hopefully provide a future competitive advantage for the group.

The company, which owns 49 managed pubs and hotels, will open four refurbished outlets – in Hampshire, Hinckley, Peterborough and Sheffield – between now and Christmas, all of which will focus on freshly-prepared classic pub dishes.

The investment programme will be directed by Pioneer's new management team, led by managing director Nigel Wright and chair Colin Rutherford.

"All of our pubs are unbranded businesses which will focus on becoming heroes in their local areas by providing empathetic service, food and drink with a twist, and stylish homely comfort,” said Wright.

"Over the next 12 months, we will be investing heavily to ensure the service, food and overall offer is second to none."

Pioneer also revealed that it will be making a series of selective acquisitions in order to increase the size of its estate over the next year, which will be supported by its lead investor, Bank of Scotland, through equity investment.

The Pioneer estate was acquired from the Noble House Pub Company in June this year and sites with properties in both England and Scotland.