A NORTH-EAST firm of solicitors has been helping Tyneside brothers Baldev and Amarjit Ladhar to expand theirhotel and leisure businesses with three deals.

In June, Mincoffs Solicitors handled the purchase of Rabbit Catering, of Billingham.

This gave the Ladhars a chain of concession caf outlets in department stores throughout the region.

In the second deal the brothers added the Corner House pub and nightclub in Middlesbrough, bought from Crown Crest Inns, to the group's leisure and catering business portfolio.

The third transaction resulted in the purchase of a Hartlepool pub trading under the Corner House name