Tenants boosted by Deloitte drink deal
Deloitte, the administrator for Retail & Licensed Properties (R&LP), the tenanted company placed in administration at the start of this year, has agreed a new supply deal for tenants that broadens the range of drinks on offer.
The estate is understood to have had a Heineken UK-dominated supplier list previously. Licensees had complained about a reduction in brands on offer and the removal of discounts.
One tenant, Nick Griffin, who owns nine-strong Pleisure Pub Company, said the cutting of the drinks list had been "wrecking" his business at the Charles Dickens pub in Worthing, West Sussex. The estate is currently being run by Licensed Solutions (LS) and LT Pub Management on behalf of the administrator.
The LS/LT area managers and telesales department will be discussing the range of new options with the tenants in the next two weeks.
"It is important for us when we are managing an estate such as Retail & Licensed Properties, that we can offer to the tenants in the estate the best possible options for their pubs," said Paul Whitford, of LS.
"They are trying to compete in the market place and we feel a full range of product options should be available to them. The administrators have worked closely with us to deliver this."
Neville Kahn, joint administrator and partner at Deloitte, said: "Notwithstanding that over time R&LP pubs will be marketed for sale, the introduction of an improved drinks range by LS/LT offers business growth opportunities that should see an upturn in trade for tenants."
The move was given a cautious welcome by Griffin.
"We built up a following at the Charles Dickens for our cask ale offer. But (under the old drinks list) there are only about six ales on there. The beer choice was appalling."
Griffin said he would now "wait and see" how the new drinks list performed at
his pub.
