Sacked licensee couple unfairly dismissed rules tribunal

A licensee couple sacked for allegedly watering down beer were unfairly dismissed, an employment tribunal has ruled.

Eric and Carol Daykin's solicitor has launched a £50,000 claim for damages against their former pub's owners, Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries (W&DB).

Mrs and Mrs Daykin were fired in July last year after a test by brewery quality control inspectors found that a beer sample taken from their pub had been watered down.

However, the Sheffield employment tribunal accepted evidence that the sample, taken from the Limes Hotel in Broom, Rotherham, could have been adulterated at the brewery.

The tribunal judgement said W&DB made a "fundamental error" in failing to follow its established testing procedures.

Mr and Mrs Daykin had been licensees for 28 years and had managed the Limes for seven years. They are claiming damages for the impact on their professional reputations as well as the financial loss they suffered. A W&DB spokesman said the brewer would continue to be vigilant where the quality of its beer was concerned.

"In the most recent case we were criticised for our procedures rather than the action we took and we will review the way we carry out these tests.

"However, while there have been two cases where challenges have been upheld, there have been over a dozen tribunal cases during the last 10 years where we have taken appropriate action against offenders, procedures have been successful and tribunals have been won by ourselves.

"We care passionately about the quality of our beers and we will exercise the utmost diligence in preserving their absolute integrity."