Forum of British Pubs criticises Adjudicator for focusing on ‘minor issues’

The Forum of British Pubs (FBP) has hit out at the Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) and accused it of ignoring the major issues that are facing tied pub landlords while taking credit for minor issues that have no real impact.

Greene King this week self-reported that it failed to provide some tenants with meeting notes following meetings with them and their business development managers, a matter that the FBP said “few tenants would be concerned about”.

Meanwhile, it said key activities that were driving many of the country’s pubs to close are “not being adequately addressed in any way”.

It highlighted matters such as unfair pressure on dilapidations with demands for tenants to spend huge amounts of money to have tenancies renewed; refusal to deliver tied products to help pubs restart without full back rent and lockdown rent being paid; misleading tenants on the Market Rent Only option; and refusing to renew short term agreements in an attempt to replace existing tenants with higher paying incoming tenants, and said these issues were not getting the focus that they needed from the PCA.

The FBP is lobbying for the PCA to take action against pubcos that blatantly breach the Pubs Code, which was put in place to protect tenant landlords, and for the government to give the PCA the necessary powers to act.

Dave Mountford, founder member of the FBP, said: “It’s becoming embarrassing when the PCA issues press releases relating to trivial results or information, when the sort of abuses that have gone on for years are being completely ignored.

“If the PCA is so impotent it cannot deal with the information that we have provided to it, it should say so and ask the Secretary of State to give them the powers they need.”