ALL 136 Whitbread pubs in Lancashire are to be sold as part of a major company shake-up.

Around 3,000 pubs countrywide are to be "unlocked" by Whitbread in the plans to sell its Pub and Beer Company in order to concentrate on the company's hotel, restaurant and leisure club businesses.

A spokesman for Whitbread today confirmed that 136 of its pubs across Lancashire would be sold off as going concerns. Although he added that the pubs are the "best performers in their field" he could not guarantee against job losses.

"As far as we are concerned we have a very strong pub estate and a very good product," he said. "Whoever buys them will buy into a profitable business but I could not say yes or no that jobs would be lost."

The company, which recently sold its brewery in Samlesbury, breaks its pubs down into three categories. In Lancashire they are: Three 'High Street' pubs, which include branded pubs and bars such as the Hogshead as well as Casa bars and cafe style bars.

61 pubs, which are managed outlets and 'local' pubs.

71 Whitbread Pub Partnerships, primarily local and rural pubs run independently but contracted to Whitbread.

Industry experts said the proposed sale should not effect businesses but said the deals -- scheduled to happen before 2001 -- needed to take place as soon as possible.

"The problem for our members is that they will be wondering now who they will be dealing with in the future," said Tony Payne, chief executive of Federation if the Licensers Victuallers Association (LVA), which covers Lancashire. "They would want to know what beers they can have in the pubs because different companies have different beers which could affect business.

"It seems that Whitbread do not have the confidence in the local pubs which is sad because I have every confidence in the licence trade at the moment and overall I don't think the sell off will change much."

Les Harrison, chairman of the LVA in Burnley, said the move would inevitably push prices up on the customer.

A Whitbread spokesman added the company were looking for a buyer to purchase the whole Pub and Beer Company although would consider splitting up the 3,000 outlets.