Pubwatch ban on JDW outlet is wholly unfair'

by John Harrington

JD Wetherspoon has accused licensees in Buxton, Derbyshire, of using the pubco as a "scapegoat" after the town's JDW outlet was banned from the local Pubwatch.

The JDW-owned Wye Bridge House was banned because of resentment caused by its Price-watch poster, which compares Wetherspoon prices with those of nearby pubs.

Pubwatch also claimed that Wye Bridge's staff displayed "unacceptable standards of behaviour".

Buxton Pubwatch chairman Ken Howarth added that a number of staff at Wye Bridge House had been banned from the town's Level Two nightclub for rowdy behaviour.

Howarth, Punch lessee of the Queen's Head Hotel, pointed to inaccuracies on the Pricewatch posters that had "caused a lot of animosity" with local licensees.

For example, comparing prices of 25ml spirit measures with 35ml measures as though they were the same, and claiming one pub sold bottled Beck's for £2.25 when the actual price was £1.50.

Howarth said the group would even consider lodging objections if Wetherspoon applies for a variation on its licence.

"Until we see acceptable levels of behaviour and commitment to the people of Buxton, we do not consider that [Wetherspoon] is suitable to be a member [of Pubwatch]," Howarth said.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon blasted Buxton Pubwatch's decision, taken at a meeting on Wednesday last week, as "scapegoating".

"Wetherspoon takes Pubwatch very seriously as an active member and wants to play its part in stamping out problems in the town.

"It seems wholly unfair and unjust that it should not be allowed to do so," he said.

"Wetherspoon will be look-ing to discuss this matter with the police and with National Pubwatch."

On the complaints against the Pricewatch posters, Gershon said: "Every single pub in Buxton is in competition so we are very disappointed that they wish to exclude Wetherspoon because of the Pricewatch initiative."

Gershon added that Wether-spoon was regarded highly by National Pubwatch as a firm supporter of local Pubwatch schemes.

Last year, National Pubwatch chairman Raoul de Vaux singled out JD Wetherspoon for praise when he attacked managed pubcos for not doing enough to help their local Pubwatch schemes.

Wetherspoon's director of licensing, David Issacs, is also a committee member of National Pubwatch.