QUESTIONS loom over the fate of some of the biggest pubs in Bolton as their owner is sold to a company based in Hong Kong.

Six of the most well loved pubs in Bolton are owned by pub group Greene King, but the hospitality titan has just announced that the company will be sold to a Hong Kong firm in a billion pound deal.

Greene King owns around 2,700 pubs, restaurants and hotels across the UK, including The Beehive and the Blundell Arms in Horwich, the Red Lion and Pine Tree Farm in Over Hulton, Cotton Kier in Eagley and the Flag in Egerton.

The pub giant has been bought by Hong Kong operator CKA, founded by Hong Kong's richest man Li Ka-Shing, whose business empire spans retail, telecoms and power firms.

The deal values Greene King at £2.7bn. The news comes as pubs across Bolton continue to shut down, with almost half of the town's watering holes closing in the last 15 years.

It is unknown what CKA has in store for the pubs, but Greene King has said that there are no material changes planned to the business so far and will not "initiate any material headcount reductions within the Greene King organisation as a result of the acquisition."

Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie said CKA shared "many of Greene King's business philosophies".

He said: "They understand the strengths of our business and we welcome their commitment to working with the existing management team, evolving the strategy and investing in the business to ensure its continued long-term growth."