Punch Taverns drops bonus points scheme

Punch Taverns has been accused of "penny pinching" after abandoning a bonus points scheme in its annual promotional catalogue.

Licensees are up in arms after the offer, which allows up to £50 of stock to be ordered for free, was left out of the latest edition of the catalogue.

Punch Promotional Service allows pubs to order merchandise such as branded glassware, staff clothing, drip mats and beer towels.

But Mark Graydon, licensee the White Hart in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, contacted The Publican ​when he noticed the omission in this year's catalogue.

He said the catalogue's last three editions each contained 50 bonus points and an allocation of items from which licensees could order stock for free.

However Mark claims when he contacted Punch about the offer, he was told it was no longer running.

"It sticks in the craw," he said. "It is just taking something else away. This is yet another thing we have to pay for."

He added he did not believe the turbulent financial climate justified the withdrawal of the bonus points.

"We are all going through a tough time," Mark added. "And they keep advertising they are giving people help. But what they are giving on one hand, they are taking away with another."

Sean Garvey, licensee of the Albion in Bradford, accused the pubco of "penny pinching".

"I think this is unbelievable," he said. "The offer was never very extravagant in the first place. But at least it was something. It was a token of goodwill that has been taken away."

A spokeswoman from Punch Taverns said: "Our Punch Promotional Service (PPS) brochure is only one element of the comprehensive support that we offer to our licensees.

"What we offer our licensees is under constant review. This voucher has not historically had a large take up, so we have directed our efforts into other areas of support which is currently running at £1.6m per month."