BOLTON'S Cotton Kier pub on Watersmeeting Road has changed hands.

It is one of 80 Tom Cobleigh pubs throughout the country acquired by The Spirit Group, an independent pub operator based in Burton-upon-Trent.

The pub will boost the number of Spirit Group outlets in Bolton to six, collectively employing more than120 bar and restaurant staff.

The others are: Crofters Arms, Bradshaw Road, Bradshaw; Red Lion, Salford Road, Over Hulton; Stags Head, St Helens Road; Three Pigeons, Wigan Road; and the White Horse, Stitch-mi-Lane, Harwood.

All Tom Cobleigh pubs are now owned by The Spirit Group, which employs more than 15,000 people nationally, and operates more than 1,000

managed pubs including Two for One, Q's, and Bar Room Bar outlets.

Spirit also owns the Wacky Warehouse chain of children's play barns.

Chief executive Karen Jones said: "We are totally committed to making all our pubs great places for people to socialise, eat, drink and relax.

"Tom Cobleigh pubs are extremely popular with familes and will be an important part of our business."

"All Tom Cobleigh pub employees will now work for The Spirit Group and have opportunities for further training and progression within the company. We plan to continue to invest and grow our operations in Bolton."