Publican demands debt waiver for Punch tenants

Ron Piper is due to attend court tomorrow (Friday) over a £23,000 debt incurred during an 11-year stint at the Sir John Barleycorn in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Piper has written to Punch chairman, Stephen Billingham, asking him to grant a waiver on the debt to allow him time to assess his financial situation.

He said: “I have written many times over the years asking for rent reviews or discounted beers as I am on the highest level possible, and complaints about agreements and repairs but I’m afraid you are not listening to your partners.

“If you truly value us as your partner I trust you will offer me the same courtesy that bondholders have offered you for the last five years for your breach of agreements to them.

“As such I request that a waiver also be granted to myself to allow time to conclude the disputes already logged and to your other partners who too may be in dispute.”

Counter-claim​

Piper admitted he had withdrawn some rent until promised repair works were carried out and said he was looking at a possible counter-claim for the stress his dealings with Punch have caused him.

He took over the Sir John Barleycorn in 2003 and has since secured its listing as an asset of community value. He also ran The Peartree in Bassignbourn for a year but was evicted after disputes over the level of rent, which he claims was based on a refurbishment that never took place.

Piper was declared bankrupt in 2011 but the Sir John Barleycorn was transferred to a limited company under the control of his daughter. Punch launched legal proceedings for eviction last year.

Piper said: “For over five years now Punch Taverns have been negating debt of £2/3 billion caused by their own failed pubco model and failed investment in their estate and yet still paying out huge bonuses whilst its ‘partners’ live year from year not knowing where they really stand and have poior quality of life.”

Supportive​

A Punch spokeswoman said she could not comment on Piper’s case as legal proceedings were active.

On the accusation the company does not support tenants, she said: “In this challenging trading environment, our focus is on supporting our partners and helping them build sustainable businesses as it is not in our interests to see our businesses fail.

“We are committed to helping and supporting our partners by offering financial help, guidance and business advice. We offer support that goes far beyond that which would be provided or expected in any other commercial landlord and tenant relationship and have introduced many initiatives to help licensees improve their profitability and drive footfall, such as the world’s largest pub darts competition, as well as providing free training for our partners and their teams.”