Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries (W&D) has agreed to buy Wizard Inns for £89.9m.

The Wizard estate, which consists of 63 managed community and unbranded outlets, mainly in the south of England, is a good fit for the W&D portfolio, which consists of more than 1,600 neighbourhood pubs as well as the Pitcher & Piano and Bostin’ Local brands.

W&D said the Wizard properties, half of which are freehold, offered good opportunities for both conversion and replication across W&D’s existing operating formats.

Ralph Findlay, chief executive, said: “Wizard has a good track record, in part because of its strong customer service culture, the essence of which we will seek to retain and develop across comparable Pathfinder Pubs.”

In the year ending 28 December 2003, Wizard announced operating profit of £5.9m on turnover of £43.8m and W&D expects to save £2.5m in overhead savings in the first year.

W&D is still on the look out for further acquisitions.

“The acquisition of Wizard is consistent with our strategy of expanding our estate organically and geographically, where suitable opportunities occur that meet our returns criteria,” said Findlay.