Greene King criticised over 'rushed' Hawthorn Leisure deal

The move could even prompt legal action from a prospective buyer of one of the pubs, who is demanding to know why GK accepted his offer when a deal with Hawthorn was imminent.

It has also left an Essex licensee considering quitting the pub she was born in and has run for 25 years.

Tom Archer contacted the PMA to complain that his bid to buy the White Horse, in Newport, Saffron Waldon, Essex, was scuppered by the Hawthorn deal.

He said: “GK had accepted the offer and we were due to complete on 1 May — the day the Hawthorn Leisure deal was announced. GK referred me to the press release announcing the deal, but I’ve had no further contact.

“I’ve been treated entirely shoddily as it’s very clear that GK had been talking to Hawthorn long before. If that is so, why wasn’t I warned, and why am I still no clearer?”

Archer is now appealing for other people who may be in a similar situation to come forward (at naqerj.oyngg@zheqbpufynj.pb.hx​) with a view to launching joint legal action.

Communication​

GK’s communication has also been criticised by Wendy Barker, licensee at the Chequers in Felsted, who said she has made several attempts to buy her home and was annoyed that she had been ignored while the company manoeuvred to sell it in a bulk deal.

She said: “It’s the uncertainty. After almost 60 years in this pub, to find my world turned upside down again is difficult to take. This pub is my home and my life but at 58 I’m not sure I can be bothered to go through it again.

“Everything seems to have been rushed through. I can’t help feeling that’s deliberate, so that everyone thinks: ‘I haven’t got time to read any of this. I’ll just sign it and send it straight back.’ We’re in a strange bubble because we don’t know which pubs have been taken over — probably because they don’t want us ganging up together.”

A Hawthorn Leisure spokesman said: “Since announcing the transaction we’ve contacted all publicans affected and look forward to meeting them face-to-face after it completes.”

No one from Greene King was able to give the PMA a comment.