Just six GK tenants take up Elliott's offer to talk

by Ewan Turney

Only six Greene King tenants have taken up an invitation from Pub Partners boss David Elliott to talk to him directly about their problems.

Elliott wrote to all his tenants in May after a group of 90 of them outlined plans to take Greene King to the Office of Fair Trading over beer prices. The group claimed they were being undercut, sometimes by as much as 30p a pint, by Greene King managed houses. Elliott said: 'If you would like to discuss your personal situation with me directly please free to contact me. I assure you any issues will be fully explored.

The Pub Partners estate consists of 1,260 pubs, yet Elliott said he only received six phone calls and has yet to hear from the rebel group in an official capacity. 'Only two of the calls were about pricing, he said. 'The other four were where tenants had other issues and took the opportunity to ring me.

'As far as we are concerned we have dealt with the issues raised and are continuing to concentrate on building business in the estate.

However, one of the callers remains unsatisfied. Trevor Barr, of the London Porter House in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, said he had effectively been snubbed by Elliott.

Barr claims he is being forced out of the trade after 18 months because a social club 100 yards away sells IPA for £1.20 a pint. It is able to buy the brew £25 cheaper per barrel.

Despite speaking directly to Elliott, Barr said nothing has changed. 'He listened and said 'leave it with me' but that was a month ago. Since then, after two meetings, our area manager has come back and said 'there is nothing we can do. We can't alter the price structure'.

Elliott said he was aware of the situation at the London Porter House but was not prepared to discuss individual cases.