"I've known Paul Newby for 3 decades...he's ideal" - trade consultant Phil Dixon

Every day I speak to fellow BII members about the uncertainty they are now facing, as pubcos operating strictly within the law are considering taking their pubs back to management, or not renewing their leases for anything other than five years without a legal fight. 

For those who may survive to exercise MRO how many will be able to afford it?

There will be a battle to obtain a fair free of tie rent via a third party or the courts. Pubcos will seek six months of the new rent as a deposit; three months rent in advance, their legal fees (you can’t make this up) and the dreaded stamp duty. So if they have their way to obtain MRO you will require a pot typically of around £40.000 minimum!

So we certainly will need a strong knowledgeable statuary Adjudicator. All the organisations that professionally represent thousands of licensees such as BII, ALMR and FLVA have full confidence in Paul Newby - as I do.

Why is that?

In my case I have seen the work he has done especially for Enterprise lessees such as Colin Ombler at the wonderful Bell at Wellford on Avon or the rent he obtained for Mark Butler at the Worlds End in Northants - £10.000 a year less than Mark had originally offered to settle it at!

But yes, he has also done valuations for Enterprise.

Did the BISC select committee have any balanced evidence? Why could they not ask former Licensee of the Year and campaigner Keith Marsden, Prince of Wales in Birmingham. His view is that ‘Paul is a man of fantastic integrity who is both feared and respected by pubcos’. 

I have advised and represented well over a thousand Publicans in rent reviews but I have written and been paid for articles in Enterprise publications. I have even played cricket for Punch and if Marstons phoned today with a spare ticket for the Edgbaston test I will be there.

Am I conflicted?

I think MRO is a very useful option to use as a bargaining tool for a better deal but I have serious concerns that by going down the legalistic route you play into the hands of those who can afford the best legal advice - i.e. pubcos. Anti-pubco campaigners are strangely quiet when it comes to costs and fees as I suspect they cannot wait to get their noses into that trough.

If today’s publicans are to get any movement towards a fairer relationship, the statuary Adjudicator will need to be qualified, experienced, respected and tough.

I have known Paul Newby for three decades and he possesses all those qualities. He is an ideal person for the job but if we are to judge him lets do it on future results.

Phil Dixon is a trade consultant​​