By Adria Calatayud

U.K. pub operator Greene King said late Wednesday that it has kept 79 sites shut following the lockdown and that around a third of them will be permanent closures.

The company, which was bought by a subsidiary of Hong Kong's CK Asset Holdings Ltd. last year, said its 11 Loch Fyne restaurants are among the sites that haven't been reopened.

"The continued tightening of the trading restrictions for pubs, which may last another six months, along with the changes to government support was always going to make it a challenge to reopen some of our pubs," the company said.

Greene King didn't specify how many jobs will be affected but said it is working to try and find roles for its employees in other pubs wherever possible.

Sky News reported Wednesday that the company has already consulted 800 employees about job losses.

Write to Adria Calatayud at adria.calatayud@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-08-20 0237ET