THE Carpenters Arms at Felixkirk, near Thirsk, has been bought by rural entrepreneur Tony Fawcett, whose Studford Leisure Group now has three pubs in a growing mini-empire - and he plans to buy more.

Mr Fawcett, a former deer farmer, is chairman of the group which also owns the White Swan at Ampleforth, and the Feathers Hotel, Helmsley, which it acquired last June and refurbished at a cost of £100,000.

With former owner Paul Donohoe retiring to his native Ireland, the group bought The Carpenters Arms for an undisclosed six figure sum.

The Feathers Hotel is run by group director Graham Davies, and another group director runs the White Swan. 'Mine host' at The Carpenters Arms will be Robert Cowling, with new chef Jeremy Curtis.

Mr Fawcett, who used to own Studford Venison which bred deer on his 450-acre Studford Farm at Ampleforth, said of his expanding pub empire: "We are hand-picking places as they come on to the market and what guides us is location, location and location - in that order!

"We are looking for quality pubs which will serve quality food but we do not want them so close to each other that we rob Peter to pay Paul."

With expansion, two well-known local businessmen have joined the group. Edward Shouler, a director of the Randell Parker Food Group (also of Shouler's meat company in Coventry) becomes a non-executive director and shareholder. Jeff Hart, catering and public house consultant, joins the main board. Joseph Campbell also joins the group as financial controller.

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