A Tadcaster company which has acquired 50 pubs in only three years of existence, is now hunting for likely purchases in York and North Yorkshire.

Tadcaster Pub Company, which already owns the Star Inn at Huby, the Lord Nelson at Thirsk, the Turks Head at Ripon and the Durham Hotel in Scarborough, plans to buy another 15 establishments this year.

It will represent a new surge of multi-million pound buying by company chairman Jim Walsh, who sold the 75- pub Commer Inns group to the Punch Pub Company in December 2001 before immediately starting his new thriving venture in the same building in Commer House, Station Road, Tadcaster.

After the first 18 months, when the Tadcaster Pub Company owned 40 properties, its assets were estimated to be worth more than £10 million.

James Crawfurd-Porter, 38, is managing director of the new pub operator. He and director Alison Woodfine both formerly worked for Commer Inns.

The pub company's portfolio now extends from Burton-on-Trent in the south to Berwick on Tweed in the north and encompasses the region east of the Pennines. The 50th milestone was reached with the acquisition of the Old Cottage Tavern, Burton-on-Trent, Tadcaster Pub Company's first venture outside the heartland of Yorkshire and the North East.

Mr Crawfurd-Porter said that his company had virtually doubled its estate year-on-year.

"Where possible we retain the incumbent licensee or manager of a new property, as their knowledge of the pub and customers is invaluable in ensuring a smooth transition between owners."

Mrs Woodfine said "We hope to add another 15 pubs this year and will be looking at establishments in York and North Yorkshire. We want quality community pubs that are more than just local drinking houses.

"We want pubs in which tenant licensees with drive and initiative can make successful businesses in areas like food and accommodation in addition to drinks."

She said that it was never really the business plan to sell Commer Inns "but the big boys are falling over themselves to buy anything".

Updated: 11:25 Monday, January 17, 2005