Sale & Lease-back

RNS Number:4585J
Regent Inns PLC
01 April 2003

1st April 2003


                                REGENT INNS PLC

                        Sale and Leaseback Announcement

Regent Inns plc ("Regent" or "the Company") today announces that it has
completed a sale and leaseback transaction with St. James Capital Property
Limited.  The transaction relates to three properties: Walkabout, Portsmouth
including the three floors of offices above; Walkabout, Wolverhampton; and The
Stone House, Hertford.

Regent will receive consideration of #7.2 million in cash which will be used to
reduce debt.  The net book value of the assets sold at 4 January 2003 was #4.2
million.  Regent has entered into a 35 year lease with St. James Capital
Property Limited to lease back the properties at a rent of #559,000 per annum.

Commenting on the transaction, Stephen Haupt, Chief Executive of Regent, said:

"Regent is focused on operating late night, entertainment-led bars, not on
managing large scale properties. This transaction will also allow us to reduce
bank debt and gearing and to further strengthen our balance sheet."

                                    - Ends -


For more information, please contact:

Regent Inns plc                                              Tel. [phone]
Stephen Haupt, Chief Executive
Simon Rowe, Finance Director

Merlin Financial                                             Tel. [phone]
Paul Downes                                                  Mob. [phone]
Vanessa Maydon                                               Mob. [phone]




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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