FIVE Dorset pubs believed to be among those sold by pub group Marston’s have been revealed in a leaked list.

Marston’s has sold 137 sites across the UK to Admiral Taverns in a deal worth almost £45 million.

Admiral has refused to confirm or deny the list but independent reports indicate it is accurate.

The five pubs believed to be affected in Dorset are the Horton Inn in Wimborne, The Crown at Winterborne Stickland, the Rose and Crown in Sherborne, the Cashmoor Inn near Blandford and the Chapelhey Tavern in Weymouth.

It is not known if they will continue to be run by the same people.

In a recent statement, Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay said the business plans to reduce its net debt by £200m by 2023 with the sale of smaller sites.

The deal comes just weeks after Admiral Taverns snapped up 150 pubs from the Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars business.