PUBS and bars group Yates has outlined plans for expansion after reaping the rewards of a business overhaul.

The group, which owns the Bolton-based Wine Lodge chain, has turned around its fortunes with a strong finish to its financial year.

Yates plans to expand its core Wine Lodge estate from 127 sites to about 200.

In the year to March 31 group turnover increased to £161.7m from £156.1m a year earlier. However, bottom-line pre-tax profits were affected by exceptional items totalling £10m and included the loss on the disposal of branches, the cancellation of a number of property projects and reorganisation costs.

That left pre-tax profits at £2.2m, compared with £15.7m a year earlier