PICA-Service finds Star Pubs & Bars in breach of industry code

27-Jun-2013 - Last updated on 28-Jun-2013 at 13:13 GMT

Star Pubs & Bars: it has been found in breach of the industry code

The Pubs Independent Conciliation and Arbitration (PICA)-Service has ruled against Star Pubs & Bars for failing to ensure that two former tenants had taken professional advice before submitting a business plan.

In a case brought by Martyn and Patricia Turner, former tenants of the Old Bridge House in Blackpool, the PICA-Service panel found the pubco to be in breach of the Industry Framework Code. Damages and costs were awarded to the couple.

However, the panel did not find, from the evidence presented, that the pub company had committed any other technical breaches or breaches in the spirit of the Code of Practice.

Findings of the hearing, held in London on Tuesday 11 June, were made available today.

A further PICA-Service hearing took place on Wednesday (26 June) – the findings of which will be released in due course.

The PICA-Service was set up as part of the self-regulation deal between the Government and the industry to rule over code-of-practice between lessees/tenants and pubcos. The service is designed to provide tied-tenants and lessees with a formal platform to resolve disputes with their pubcos.

The Old Bridge House was the fourth case to have been settled by a PICA-Service hearing.