BOSSES at Thwaites have defended plans to sell off two pubs in Blackburn after being criticised by ale group CAMRA.

Members of the East Lancashire CAMRA branch blasted the Blackburn-based brewery for plans to sell the Sportsmans Arms and Gibraltar pubs with covenants preventing them from reopening as pubs.

But Andrew Buchanan, director of pub operations at Thwaites, said the move was to protect other pubs in the area.

He said: “We can confirm that we are looking into selling The Sportsmans Arms and Gibraltar pubs in Blackburn with restricted covenants, to protect the viability of all remaining pubs in the area.

“Owing to the high density of pubs in the vicinity, we feel that the Sportsman and Gibraltar are not viable as pubs.

“However, in the current market they would make for good alternative sites.”

John Ingham, the chairman of East Lancs CAMRA, said selling the pubs with covenants was a purely commercial move that would not benefit local drinkers.