MACLAY Inns, the owner of famous Glasgow ale house the Three Judges, has been bought out of out of administration by the company behind the Yates's and Slug and Lettuce brands.

The 15-strong Maclay portfolio, which includes Balloch's Tullie Inn and The Rule in St Andrews, has been snapped up by Stonegate Pub Company after being marketed with an £11.7 million price tag.

The deal comes after Alloa-based Maclay called in administrators at EY in January, citing an "unexpected funding requirement".

Since then the outlets have continued to trade, with the majority of its 500-strong workforce still intact. The pubs were sold on behalf of EY by licensed trade specialist CDLH, which described the process carried out by the accountancy giant as a "textbook" administration.

Stonegate operates more than 600 outlets across the UK.