50 buyers tipped to be in the hunt for cash-strapped Cains

Wolverhampton-based brewer Marston's is likely to be a serious contender

The administrators of cash-strapped Cains Brewery say it could take up to two weeks to sift through expressions of interest in buying the business.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers has received 50 enquiries about the Liverpool-based brewer and pub company, which has gone into administration with heavy debts after making a loss of £4.6 million in the six months to the end of April.

A spokeswoman for PwC said: "There have been around 50 expressions of interest, but that's quite different to a specific offer to buy the brewery.

"It's now a question of going through them all to sift out the ones that are serious and that process will take a couple of weeks. For the time being, it's business as usual. Suppliers, employees and customers have been supportive."

She added that "the favoured option is to sell the business as a whole ", though constituent parts will be sold separately if a buyer for the lot doesn't emerge.

Marston's has been tipped as a serious bidder for the company, and it could be the option most likely to secure the future of the brewery and its brands.

The Wolverhampton-based brewer has bought Ringwood, Jennings and Refresh UK, and

retained the brewing base of each.

A

Revenue & Customs winding-up order against Cains lapsed automatically after the company entered administration earlier this month.