According to licensee Anita Adams of the Golden Slipper and the Malting’s pubs in York - speaking at the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Association conference last week - those working on the new code must prioritise views of publicans at the coal face if tied tenants and lessees are to get a fair deal.
A member of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association management committee, she claimed some organisations trying to get involved did not understand life at the sharp end.
She said: “Unfortunately organisations such as CAMRA, who just don’t understand the problem, are getting involved.
“Some organisations are not speaking on behalf of publicans. We should be the only people consulted, but unfortunately this rarely happens. These organisations may do a useful job, but they’re not the voice of the tenants.
“I don’t want these people to have a say in how my life is affected from now on.”
British Beer & Pub Association director Dr Martin Rawlings said part of the problem was the tenanted trade’s lack of a national body.
“It’s unfortunate that there are so many other organisations (representing licensees) in the trade,” he said.
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