A MAJOR pub chain is reportedly planning to sell more than 1,000 of its venues as it battles with billions of pounds of debt. Stonegate Group, which owns the Slug & Lettuce and Be At One chains, is said to be exploring options for almost a quarter of its 4,300 venues. The pub chain turned over more than £1.7billion last year but it has racked up debts of more than £3billion. Since the end of the pandemic, pub chains have been weighed down with high interest rates, higher employee costs and higher food and energy bills. Hikes to National Insurance have also hit pub chains hard.
