New warnings over website following complaints

Licensees have again been warned not to sign up for a website which claims to bring them coachloads of tourists in return for a listings fee and a monthly charge.

Warwickshire County Council issued a warning notice after a new round of complaints from local publicans about Stockport-based Pubsite.

The company asks pubs to pay a £160 set-up fee, and then monthly fees of £40, in return for a listing on its website.

Licensee Wayne Quinlan, of the Railway Inn in Warwick, said: "I first met the company a year ago and I got suspicious as they were very pushy and wanted money straight away."

Marcus Easterlow, of the King's Head in nearby Cubbington, said that he paid more than £100 to the company 18 months ago and had received very little in return.

"A man came to the pub and took photographs but all they did was add our name to the website - and they got it wrong," he said.

Peter Brown, managing director of Pubsite, admitted there had been problems with the company promising licensees too much in the past.

He said sales people were no longer making guarantees about coachloads of tourists.

"We took the sales force off the road for two months and completely changed the training," said Mr Brown.

"I'm now happy that nothing is being said that shouldn't be said."

Mr Brown claimed he had paid refunds to more than 300 pubs since the service began.