Fair Pint and FSB join forces on beer tie campaign
Fair Pint and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) have joined forces to put pressure on the government to refer the beer tie to the Competition Commission.
The two groups have today launched a national campaign calling on members from both groups to send letters to their MPs about the beer tie and demand it be lifted.
The campaign asks the government to:
- Refer the tie to the Competition Commission
- Ensure rents for the pub sector are set in a transparent and fair way
- Introduce a statutory code of practice to improve fairness in the relationship between the companies that own pubs and their tenants
Last month's Business and Enterprise Committe report was highly critical of pubcos' relationships with their tenants and lessees and recommended the beer tie be referred to the Competetition Commission. A decision from Business Secretary Lord Mandelson is due before parliametary summer recess on July 21.
Steve Corbett, a tied tenant and founder member of Fair Pint, said: "If we are going to secure the future of pubs in the UK it is important the government takes action to respond to the recommendations of the select committee by referring the tie to the Competition Commission and by introducing a statutory code of practice to improve the fairness of the relationship between lessees and the pub owners."
Clive Davenport, FSB trade and industry chairman, said: "The single biggest reason for this horrendous rate of pub closures is the tie; there is enough evidence available to prove this.
"Britain is on the brink of losing its traditional community hub - the British pub - and it is time for action."
