Pub chief bitter at Harveys turnabout
A Greene King lessee has criticised the company's decision to re-introduce Harveys to the Lewes Arms, East Sussex, while his pub opposite is not allowed to stock the beer.
With Harveys Best Bitter now back at the Lewes Arms, Nick Griffin, boss of
multiple operator Pleisure Pub Company, said he is at an unfair disadvantage because he cannot sell the popular brew at his Greene King leased pub. He accused Greene King of going back on its promise to remove Harveys from all its pubs in and around Lewes in East Sussex.
Griffin said the Lamb, which is operated by Pleisure Pub Company on a Greene King lease, is "a stone's throw" from the Lewes Arms.
Harveys Best Bitter was removed from the Lewes Arms, a Greene King managed pub, last December but returned last week following a four-month boycott by regulars.
The Lamb has not sold Harveys since Pleisure Pub Company took it on.
"When we took on the lease we were told Harveys would be coming out of all Greene King's pubs in the Lewes area," claimed Griffin. "I'm glad Harveys is back at the Lewes Arms but we should be able to stock it. It's disgraceful."
Greene King Pub Partners managing director David Elliott said: "I'm disappointed in Nick's reaction. I would have hoped that he would understand the very special circumstances connected with the Lewes Arms and the reasons we changed our decision in this particular pub.
"Our agreements are totally transparent: tenants and lessees take on our pubs in the full knowledge of the existing supply arrangements. These have not changed since Nick started running the Lamb over five years ago.
"All our tenants and lessees have available a fantastic choice of over 20 quality
cask beers a year, including one non-Greene King option. That's something qorth raising a glass to."
