TWO village pubs in the North-East have been sold as part of a shake-up by one of the country's leading pub chains.

The Boosbeck Hotel in Boosbeck, near Salburn-by-the-Sea, and The Miner's Arms in Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, were sold through the Newcastle office of Christie & Co, on behalf of Enterprise Inns.

They were sold separately off asking prices of £60,000 for the freehold interests. The two pubs were part of a package of 176 pubs placed on the market as part of the on-going rationalisation of Enterprise Inns' national estate.

The Boosbeck Hotel is a substantial two-storey property with a prominent corner site in the High Street of the village of Boosbeck, two miles from the Middlesbrough to Scarborough road. The ground floor comprises bar, lounge and function room and there is spacious five-bedroom owner's accommodation on the first floor, as well as a rear yard with carport.

The Miner's Arms is a detached two-storey property in the centre of Coundon village, two miles from Bishop Auckland with lounge/bar, rear lounge, two-bedroom owner's accommodation, rear beer garden and garage.

David Lee, Associate Director of Christie & Co's Newcastle office, negotiated the sale of both pubs.