VisitEngland has hailed the tourism appeal of celebrity-owned pubs across the country, after it was announced that Sir Ian McKellen had acquired an East London establishment.

The actor, who appeared in films including the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Da Vinci Code among others, has bought The Grapes in Limehouse.

Some of the other celebrity-owned pubs are Sir Michael Parkinson's The Royal Oak, Berkshire, and film director Guy Richie's Punch Bowl in Mayfair, London.

A VisitEngland spokesperson said: "Following the news that Sir Ian McKellen is set to become the landlord of his favourite 'East End boozer', English pubs appear to have become the latest celebrity must-have.

"In England, pubs aren't just places where you can buy a pint; they are an integral part of the English way of life and the cornerstone of many local communities."