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News Article Comments : Beware of EU prying into tie
As the row over the tied house system gathers pace, I am intrigued by the role of the GMB trade union, which appears to have hopped into bed with Fair Pint and the Federation of Small Businesses.
All three plan to present their case against the tie to the European Commission. As I have argued before, there’s a danger that a complaint against the behaviour of the giant pub companies could spill over into an all-out assault on the tie in general. If the EU were to outlaw the tie then mayhem could follow.
As Fuller’s chairman Michael Turner said last week, an investigation of the tie would be hugely damaging, with brewers refusing to invest in their tied estates for fear they might lose them within a few years.
It’s one thing to object to pubcos, quite another to crudely lump them together with brewers who own tied estates. Some of those estates are tiny, a few dozen pubs. Remove the tie and breweries would go out of business.
So why is the GMB lining up with Fair Pint and the FSB, tw
| Author Name | Opinion | Reply |
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Gilbert Bank 19/06/2009 21:15:49 |
RE: Beware of EU prying into tie Roger, there are lots of tatty tawdry pubs belonging to regional brewers that have had no investment for decades. I was a tenant in two of them. As ever, follow the money and find the thinking. Check out the buzzard like regionals swooping down and gobbling up houses as the big two feel the white heat of non maintainable trade. Could this money have been diverted to "sparkle" the current estate? They don't care about anyone else. Never have. Time to reciprocate. Plenty of brewers out their want my business at a fair price. This post replies to this thread |
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info man 19/06/2009 23:42:19 |
RE: Beware of EU prying into tie I couldnt agree more, if they dont want to invest in their estates then sell them and let somebody who wants to run pubs have a go. This post replies to Gilbert Bank > RE: Beware of EU prying into tie |
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| J Mark Dodds 19/06/2009 23:56:52 |
RE: Beware of EU prying into tie On the contrary Roger. Far from it creating mayhem, losing the tie will free up competition and force much needed evolution of the pub industry. The tie ossifies market forces and stifles innovation - while wldly distorting the property market, creating misery for thousands and keeping prices unnecessarily high for consumers. It's not a very good advert for Britain is it. This industry could do with becoming more European in its outlook and thinking. Perhaps it is only Europe that can force that to happen. edited by: J Mark Dodds at: 19/06/2009 23:57:04 This post replies to this thread |
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peter giles 20/06/2009 11:57:22 |
RE: Beware of EU prying into tie "And if pubs receive no investment and became tatty and tawdry as a result, people will stop using them and more of them will close." Roger you may not be aware but most tenants are on full repairing leases,and often are not making enough to pay the bills let alone maintain the buildings,when the pubco's send in contractors the work is often uncompleted and sub-standard. When the Tie goes you will have landlords who are proud of their pubs,who will invest and build up their business,s whilst having the funds to maintain the property,and realise the potential. After all that,s why we took on the pubs in the first place, This post replies to this thread |
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| peter giles 20/06/2009 12:04:37 |
RE: Beware of EU prying into tie "The GMB has a right and a duty to defend its members’ interests, but it won’t do that by joining forces with people whose campaign can only inflict terrible damage on the already bruised and battered British public house." Roger, 50+ pubs closing weekly is "bruised and battered" and you want this to continue? Are these your own personal thoughts or that of CAMRA?? edited by: peter giles at: 20/06/2009 12:05:26 This post replies to this thread |
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| Tony Preston 20/06/2009 12:18:56 |
"And if pubs receive no investment and became tatty and tawdry as a result, people will stop using them and more of them will close" Is this not the current situation - publicans have no money to invest in the upkeep and improvement of their pub due to the all round high costs of operations. This is today, not the future. This post replies to this thread |
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Lucy Cavendish 20/06/2009 14:37:21 |
This all now smacks of desperation doesn't it? Whatever happened to the Westminster MPs who were going to change the world for Fair pint? Can it be that they've had to bury their heads in their expenses claims and don't relish the extra workload or having their pretty little heads above the parapet? This post replies to Tony Preston > Beware of EU prying into tie |
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| Gilbert Bank 20/06/2009 14:43:49 |
You're a good bloke, Lucy, thanks for posting. Should there be any prizes for burying heads in sand then step forward EI. What smacks of desperation is an article like this that clearly demonstrates how out of touch industry "experts" are. You crisp barbs cannot hide the fact that at 50 closures a week the "experts" are not demonstrating a great deal of expertise. The Bec report told a story of how damaging the tie has been in terms of attitude by those who benefit from it. Like our beloved MP's they thought they were untouchable. Someone describing MP's as morons as they were about to examined as to their business practises reveals a mind so weirdly wired. Next up poor old GT has been battered into recognising that it was sand in his eyes and not star dust as he was forced into the market to raise funding in a calamitous discounted share issue. He must be contemplating the purchase of Izal toilet tissue as he loses more and more of his family jewels to the ever waiting and obviously less debt laden regionals. Its almost too painful to watch it all unravelling. Finally, in the sandpit are the suits from RICS. As JDW mop up the wreckage of pubs at massive discounts of RICS valuations, it would be good to hear and have it explained how RICS got it so WRONG. We won't though as the brothers will close ranks. NEVER wrong! Any gotta go. Back, sack and crack day. This post replies to Lucy Cavendish > Beware of EU prying into tie |
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| Lucy Cavendish 20/06/2009 16:59:17 |
Gilbert old love, I was just pointing out that the support Fair pint should have got, they ain't getting from Westminster. A promise is a promise and the Westminster moat cleaning brigade seem to have bigger things on their tiny little minds. No need to go all macho with the back sack and crack routine, we all have enough pain in our lives already. x This post replies to Gilbert Bank > Beware of EU prying into tie |
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| Gilbert Bank 20/06/2009 17:05:57 |
Pain? Nah,,,,a lease is pain. This post replies to Lucy Cavendish > Beware of EU prying into tie |
