Fair Pint relishing Pubco Inquiry

The Fair Pint campaign group is "relishing"​ the chance to explain to MPs why it believes pubco licensees are struggling.

And it believes legislation must be introduced to force the pubcos to stick to any recommendations.

The group has managed to secure a second inquiry into the conduct of pubcos - despite being only being officially launched in May.

It is backed by the financial muscle of music mogul Vince Power, who is understood to be delighted by the news.

The first Fair Pint meetings took place about four months ago. It wants the tie removed from all pubs, except those owned by brewers with fewer than 500 sites.

The group has praised the input of accountant Brian Jacobs, who was a major player in securing the first inquiry in 2004.

"The recommendations of the 2004 Committee were welcomed across the industry, as they were aimed at breathing transparency into the profit and rent equation, and ensure that the tied tenant is not worse off than if they were free of tie,"​ said Jacobs.

"However, the major pubcos and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) have only paid lip service to these recommendations.​

"Whilst we would welcome any solution that puts tied tenants on a level footing with their free of tie counterparts, we believe that the only viable option for the Committee is to recommend that the Government bring forward legislation to remove the tie from all leased pubs, with the exception of those that are tied to brewers who own up to 500 pubs.

"Since 2004, pubcos have shown that they cannot be relied on to voluntarily undertake the Committee's recommendations.

"Therefore a statutory solution must be sought."