Twenty sales transactions were completed during the final quarter of last year, but now . . . despite good trading figures . . . most vendors are adopting a 'wait and see' approach.

Recent sales negotiated include the high-profile John M Keatings pub on Mary Street, Dublin 1 . . . also known as The Church . . . which changed hands for approximately 20m and Rosie O'Grady's Bar in Harolds Cross, sold for a price believed to be in excess of 12m. Other licensed premises to change hands recently include The Quill on Arran Quay which fetched in the region of 2m, Bohans on Meath Street in Dublin 8 and the Corbawn Tavern in Shankill, which sold for redevelopment purposes.

As well as a number of pubs which are being quietly-marketed, there are several high-profile pubs now being offered for sale publicly. The Full Shilling in Finglas village is being offered for sale by tender and has a guide price of 14m. The Salmon Leap Inn in Leixlip is guiding 3.8m and Reid's in Blessington is guiding in excess of 2.5m. In Tallaght the Penny Black which occupies a 0.48-acre site is being offered for sale by private treaty and is guiding 6.75m.

Meanwhile, Carrigan's pub in Mount Brown, Dublin 8 was granted planning permission to build a new pub with offices and apartments overhead while the Kings Inn on Bolton Street was granted planning for a similar development.

Publican Oliver Hughes is to spend 5m extending Lillies Bordello and the adjoining Porterhouse Central while the Thomas Read Group is planning a large expansion programme.