Scottish and Newcastle Pub Enterprises has been named as British Waterways’ preferred partner for its Waterside Pub Public Private Partnership.
The join venture will see the company take over 33 waterside pubs, with plans to open a further 26.
James Froomberg, British Waterways’ commercial director, said: "I am delighted that we have chosen Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises as our preferred partner. We have been impressed by the quality of their leased pub operation.
"They bring the expertise needed to develop a successful waterside pubs business and they share our vision to delight the millions of visitors to our canals and rivers each year."
In April British Waterways announced it had shortlisted three candidates as partners in the waterside pubs business: The Brains Mansford Consortium, a joint venture of S.A. Brain and Mansford Holdings; Punch Taverns; and Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises.
Bruce Casely, the strategy director of S&N Pub Enterprises, said: "The partnership has access to prime waterside pub properties and locations. We look forward to working with British Waterways and its innovative commercial approach to the development of sustainable waterside visitor destinations."
The partners will now enter negotiations which are expected to lead to completion and approval of the deal in the autumn
