Licensee wins court battle with Enterprise

A couple who were in danger of being evicted from their popular pub because of rent arrears have won a seven month extension to help them turn the business around.

Enterprise Inns, which owns Newquay pub Mavericks, had applied to Truro County Court for the forfeiture of the lease by Craig and Inez Ward, who have run the pub for six years.

However, District Judge Mitchell today gave the Wards seven months to run the business through the more profitable summer months and pay off the £12,700 arrears they owe the pubco.

If the arrears are cleared the Wards will be able to stay on. They are also hoping a rent review next month will take into account difficulties currently faced by the pub trade and lead to a reduction on the £37,000 they have to pay each year.

Supporters of the Wards had stood outside the court with placards saying Save Our Pub before the case began.

Adam Rosenthal, for Enterprise Inns, asked for possession in 28 days and resisted the Wards application for a 12-month extension.

"I have looked and found no examples where the court has been able to grant such a latitude as is being sought," he said.

However, Spencer Glazsher for the Wards, said there were special factors, such as the 32 per cent decrease in trade since the introduction of the smoking ban on July 1 last year.

The Wards, who have three children and a seven week old grandchild living at Mavericks with them, said they had been heading for their best year ever, with an increase in turnover of eight per cent, before the ban.

Their business rates had been reduced from £30,000 a year to £17,000 because the licensed trade was in decline, and they felt that the rent should be calculated on the same basis.

Inez Ward said: "Enterprise could have succeeded in getting rid of us but they didn't, not yet. This will give us enough time to fight the rest of it, with the rent review in March."