The survey showed Admiral tenants recorded the highest satisfaction levels out of the six biggest pubcos in the UK, with 72% of tied tenants feeling positive.
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Admiral also topped the charts in last year’s survey.
Greene King again ranked second this year, just behind Admiral with a satisfaction rate of 71%.
Meanwhile, Star Pubs took third place with 67% of tied tenants satisfied in the relationship, replacing Marston’s which recorded 63% this year.
Punch Pubs achieved a satisfaction score of 55%, while Stonegate continued to record the lowest level of satisfaction at 39%.
Overall, tenant satisfaction levels across all pubcos has decreased since last year, with 56% of participants reporting a positive experience, five percentage points down on 2025.
More than a quarter (26%) of respondents said they were dissatisfied with their pubco.
Biggest declines
Marston’s saw the biggest losses, with satisfaction levels down nine percentage points year-on-year, followed by Admiral and Greene King with a seven percentage point drop.
Over the past three years, Marston’s and Stonegate, which is the UK’s largest pub company, have seen the biggest decline in tenant satisfaction levels.
The main reasons tenants were dissatisfied with their pubco included price increases, poor communication, high turnover of business development managers (BDMs), lack of support and feeling overly controlled.
Slow action on repairs and lack of understanding on the issues faced by tenants were also highlighted.
Conversely, those surveyed underlined a good relationship with their BDM, responsiveness, transparency, having autonomy of their pub and fast action on issues as reasons they were satisfied.
In total, seven in 10 tenants continue to be satisfied with the relationship with their BDM, with Greene King topping the charts in this area, followed by Star Pubs and Admiral.
Punch Pubs and Stonegate saw the biggest improvements when it comes to BDM relationships, rising three and four percentage points respectively year-on-year.
Matter of concern
Admiral saw the biggest drop, falling eight percentage points compared with 2025.
Responding to the findings, PCA Fiona Dickie said: “The general decline in overall tied tenant satisfaction this year is a matter of concern.
“While these results may reflect some of the wider pressures facing the sector, pub-owning businesses must be supporting their tied pub tenants now more than ever.”
The survey was conducted by market research firm IPSOS between January and March this year.
Pubs across the country were invited to participate at random, with 1,201 tenants interviewed.
Some 134 tenants from Admiral took part in the survey, 200 from Marston’s, 124 from Punch Pubs, 221 from Star, 131 from Greene King and 391 from Stonegate.
“The survey provides valuable insight into how relationships between tied tenants and pub companies are evolving and where improvements are needed,” Dickie continued.
“It is also an important tool for tied tenants, including those thinking of taking on a tied pub, enabling them to compare experiences of existing tenants and feel empowered to raise concerns with their pub company.”
