The pubs giant behind the Yates chain will add to its portfolio this week when it snaps up Be At One cocktail bars in a £50m deal.

Stonegate Pub Company also owns the Slug & Lettuce and Walkabout brands and a number of more traditional pubs, as reported by Sky.

The company owns four pubs in Cheltenham - Yates, Whittle Taps, The Spectre and The Tivoli, and The Abbey in Gloucester. It has more than 700 pubs under its management across the UK.

Profits at Stonegate have steadily grown in recent years, with results for the 52 weeks ended 24th September showing year-on-year sales, margin and profit growth.

Stonegate is focused on town centres, with venues ranging from traditional community pubs to late-night bars.

The purchase of Be At One will come 20 years after the chain was founded by a trio of cocktail mixers who had worked together at TGI Friday's in London's Leicester Square.