Acquisition & Trading Update

RNS Number:1442P
Maypole Group plc
03 March 2008


3 March 2008

                               Maypole Group plc
                                  ("Maypole")

               Acquisition, Issue of Loan Notes and Trading Update

Acquisition

Maypole, the AIM quoted UK countryside hotels with restaurants group, today
announces that it has entered into an agreement with Punch Taverns plc ("Punch")
to acquire a leasehold interest in the Pear Tree Inn located near Melksham,
Wiltshire.

The consideration for the Pear Tree will be satisfied through Maypole's existing
bank facilities and constitutes a payment of �305,000 broken down into �70,000
for fixtures & fittings and �235,000 premium. The lease will run for 15 years
from the date of completion and is renewable under the Landlord and Tenant Act.

The Pear Tree is a 16th Century detached building set in 4 acres of grounds in
the picturesque village of Whitley, near Melksham, within easy access of the M4
and well situated for visits to numerous West Country attractions including the
Cotswolds, Longleat, Blenheim Palace, Bath and Stonehenge.

The bar area can seat around 30 people while the restaurant has space for 80
covers. Outside there is a court yard that can seat a further 100 people. The
hotel has eight five star AA letting rooms with space available for the addition
of up to six additional letting rooms.

Simon Bentley, Chairman of Maypole Group plc commented: "We are delighted with
the agreement to lease The Pear Tree and see many exciting opportunities ahead
for the business. The addition of The Pear Tree to our existing stable of
restaurants and hotels brings us up to 7 properties and is further evidence of
the Company's ambition and development plans."

Neil Griffiths, Group Property & Development Director of Punch Taverns plc
commented: "The agreement demonstrates our continued commitment to building the
pre-eminent pub estate in the UK. The Pear Tree already has a strong reputation
for delivering outstanding food in superb surroundings. We are pleased to have
entered into an agreement with Maypole Group plc which we are confident will
further develop the site's potential."

Loan Arrangements

On 15th February 2008 Maypole issued a further �100,000 of the �675,000 15%
unsecured subordinated loan notes that were created in January 2007 bringing the
total of such loan notes in issue to �265,000. These notes are redeemable on
28th February 2009 at par. No application will be made to admit these loan notes
for trading on any exchange.

Pursuant to an unsecured loan agreement dated 28th February 2008 Maypole has
borrowed �200,000. The loan is repayable on or before 31st May 2008 and carries
an interest rate of 15% per annum.

Trading Update

Maypole provides the following update ahead of the release of its preliminary
results for the year ended 31 December 2007.

After reporting a pre-tax loss of �407.842 at the interim stage (which included
an exceptional cost of �257,913), the Directors expect these losses to be
substantially reduced for the year as a whole as a consequence of the Company
producing a pre-tax profit during the second half of the year ended 31 December
2007.

The Board remains confident that Maypole is well positioned to deliver continued
growth through its existing units and the addition of further units through
acquisition.

The Company looks forward to providing further details of its trading
performance at the time of its preliminary results announcement, which is
expected to be released in May 2008.

                                     -Ends-

Contacts

Maypole Group plc                                                  020 7440 7021
Simon Bentley - Chairman

Blomfield Corporate Finance Ltd                                    020 7512 0191
Alan MacKenzie / Ben Jeynes

Weber Shandwick Financial                                          020 7067 0700
Nick Dibden / James White




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