Approximately two-thirds of properties sold in 2009 across the hotel, pub, restaurant, care and retail sectors were acquired by experienced operators, according to property agent Christie + Co’s buyer analysis.

The study, which covers the hotel, pub, restaurant, leisure, care and retail sectors, showed that only around five per cent of the individual businesses Christie + Co sold in 2009 moved into corporate ownership.

This came at a time when the large corporates curbed their acquisition strategies to focus on improving operating efficiencies.

While experienced operators acquired approximately 66% of the properties the company sold during 2009, first-time buyers accounted for around 34% of the transactions analysed.

David Lee, of Christie + Co’s Newcastle office, said: “Independent buyers positively welcomed opportunities to acquire properties that were previously beyond their reach.

“The large corporates, which were acquisitive when the market was buoyant, drove activity from a completely different perspective in 2009.

“Having grown their estates at the height of the market, they were keen to offload large numbers of sites during 2009 to generate cash and reduce debt.

“Corporate disposals created large peaks in transactional activity as bidders quickly emerged to seize the best sites.

“Our marketing intelligence told us that the number of potential buyers almost doubled when corporate disposal programmes were launched, with large peaks in website registrations and viewing activity.

“Distressed sales also generated a large volume of enquiries throughout the year and we frequently witnessed competitive bidding for those that were perceived as bargains.”

The new analysis is part of Christie + Co’s Business Outlook 2010 publication, which includes a comprehensive look back at the issues that affected the company’s specialist sectors in 2009, and which key factors will impact these markets in the coming 12 months.

The publication will also include the average property value movements for each sector in 2009 and, for the first time, the change in values since the peak of each respective market.