Tesco is set to carry on its recession beating expansion by snapping up abandoned pubs, according to reports.
The supermarket, which recently won a test case with the Competition Commission over opening stores near other Tescos, has earmarked hundreds of sites up and down the country.

According to the Mail on Sunday Tesco's planners believe local authorities will look kindly on their applications as the pubs already have permission to sell food and alcohol.

Tesco has submitted ten applications in the last three months and plans to take over a large amount of closed-down pub sites, according to the Mail on Sunday.

Tesco has said it's not just targeting pubs but the fact that up to six a day are closing, many in inner city locations, does offer Tesco options for its Express and Metro format and potentially larger stores at country pub locations.