Punch tells licensees "long period" of change ahead

Punch Taverns has written to its licensees admitting it has a "long period of change ahead" in its bid to build more trust with tenants and lessees.

The letter by Roger Whiteside, head of the group's tenanted and leased division, has reiterated the pubco model must "evolve" to ensure a more "open and transparent" relationship with its "partners".

The correspondence, seen by The Publican​, reveals further evidence of efforts by Punch to engage with its licensees in the face of last month's highly-critical Business and Enterprise committee report.

As revealed by The Publican​, Punch's chief executive Giles Thorley has written a similar letter to MPs, but included a line saying that a competition inquiry into the beer tie would be a "waste of time and resources".

In Whiteside's letter, sent at the end of last month, he echoes Thorley by saying the company is taking BEC's criticisms "very seriously", but is concerned another inquiry would create further "uncertainty" for the trade.

He adds: "We firmly believe in the importance of building sustainable, open relationships with our licensees and will investigate and take appropriate action where necessary."

Whiteside acknowledges that many licensees are currently "facing difficulties", but says Punch is offering more than £1.6m per month in helping its businesses.

However, one Punch licensee, who did not wish to be named, was left unimpressed with the letter.

He claimed he had seen "no evidence" of a sustainable and open relationship in the last five years and any change would be "too little, too late".

He adds: "Your heartwarming desire for change is strangely coincidental with the tidal wave of public opinion against the pubco model and the devastating effect it is having on the British pub trade.

"The situation therefore must be taken from your hands to have any positive effect on the British pub trade - and that is urgently needed."