Woolworths' retail liquor giant ALH has bought 12 WA pubs owned by the collapsed Compass Hotels Group.

The West Australian understands that Compass' receivers sold the portfolio that includes some of Perth's best-known suburban watering holes for close to $90 million.

That price mirrors a valuation on December 31 but falls well short of the $220 million Compass spent building the portfolio at the top of the property market in 2007.

Quentin Olde of receivers Taylor Woodings said contracts were exchanged on the sale yesterday afternoon. He said there had been strong interest in the pubs from both national and local buyers.

"The success and speed of this outcome against the backdrop of some economic uncertainty, demonstrates there is demand for quality retail and hotel assets in the WA market," he said.

The pubs sold include the Greenwood and Albion hotels and Herdsman Lake Tavern.

ALH operates 285 licensed venues, including some of WA's best-known such as the Queen's and Sail and Anchor, and more than 460 retail liquor outlets around Australia.

The receivers were called in to Compass Hotels in March to recover debts of more than $100 million.