Landlord

Legislation

Outrage as pubs code is delayed due to MRO loophole

05-May-2016 By Oli Gross

The pubs code has been delayed after a loophole was spotted in the legislation which would have made many licensees ineligible for MRO.

Legislation

Pubs code published with changes to MRO

14-Apr-2016 By James Evison

The government's response to the consultation on the pubs code has been published with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills making a number of changes to the code

Rents

Licensees claim high rent demands make tenancy 'financially unrealistic'

21-Mar-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Licensees at a popular Portsmouth pub have announced its closure on social media after staying in their pub became 'financially unrealistic' due to higher rents and spiralling maintenance costs.

Pubs

Enterprise: Community rallies round licensee after lease is terminated

21-Mar-2016 By Emily Sutherland

An Enterprise Inns licensee has thanked his local community for its 'overwhelming' support after the pub company ended his lease.

Pubs Code

New pubs code adjudicator announced

09-Mar-2016 By Emily Sutherland

The Government has announced Fleurets director Paul Newby as the pubs code adjudicator. 

Legislation

Retroactive powers for pubs code adjudicator

04-Mar-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Trade still waiting for the name of the pubs code adjudicator with the role active from May 2016.

Legislation

2015 review: the pubs code debate

22-Dec-2015 By James Evison

It was a long year in parliament for the pub sector and the potentially life-changing impact of the pubs code legislation. James Evison looks back at an emotive year for the industry.

Legislation

Pubs code: Govt claims separate parallel rent assessments not required

04-Dec-2015 By Mike Berry

The Government has clarified its position on the Parallel Rent Assessment (PRA) process following pressure from tenant campaigners angry at its omission from the original pubs code consultation.

MA300

The best business lessons learnt by multiple operators this year

04-Dec-2015 By Emily Sutherland

As the year draws to a close, the PMA asked some of the industry's top multiple site operators to cast their mind back over 2015 and share the one business lesson they know now that they wished they'd known at the start of the year. 

Punch's Slee: "Both sides must put history and emotion behind them and work together"

18-Nov-2015 By Andy Slee

Punch representative Andy Slee gives his reflections on the debate over the pubs code legislation that took place at the Tenanted Pub Company Summit.

Legislation

Draft pubs code: Are Parallel Rent Assessments unworkable?

10-Nov-2015 By Oli Gross

Reaction to Government’s decision to reverse a decision to remove Parallel Rent Assessments from the Pubs Code has been mixed, with some suggesting PRA is “almost unworkable”.

ALMR on code

Swift implementation of pubs code is now needed

03-Nov-2015 By Kate Nicholls

There are two things politicians are particularly concerned about when legislating: the law of unintended consequences and an acceptance that you cannot please all of the people all of the time.

Heinz competition

Connecting to the community

02-Nov-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Independent pubs and restaurants that consider themselves to be at the heart of their community could win a total of £50,000 in prizes in Heinz’s Heartwarming Heroes competition, which is supported by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

MRO

Pubs Code: Government publishes long-awaited first draft

29-Oct-2015 By Emily Sutherland

The first of a two-part consultation on a new Pubs Code sets out how the “market rent only” option will work. The full consultation can be seen here. 

Comment

Pubs Code: 'Our proposals aim to strike a balance for both sides'

29-Oct-2015 By Anna Soubry

With the first draft of the Pubs Code revealed, business minister Anna Soubry set how the code aims to work in practice.

Pubs Code

Pubs Code: Industry reacts to draft which 'undermines' MRO

29-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

Market Rent Only has been "undermined" in the first draft of the Pubs Code revealed today, it has been claimed, as pubcos would only have to offer MRO when asking for an increased rent at review.

Pubs Code

Draft pubs code could be 'published within a week'

23-Oct-2015 By Mike Berry

The draft statutory pubs code could be published within a week, the PMA understands.

Legislation

Licensees’ fears over MRO option

01-Oct-2015 By PMA

Licensees from around the country offer their views on the market-rent only option - and what it could means for their pubs.

Campaigners refuse to let pub’s £350,000 price tag stand in their way

19-Aug-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Campaigners fighting to save Somersham’s the Duke of Marlborough say they are ‘determined’ to reopen the pub as they prepare to raise the £350,000 needed to buy it.

London

London licensee forced out of pub by sky high London rents

17-Aug-2015 By Emily Sutherland

A Shoreditch licensee has spoken of her sadness after spiralling London rents forced her to sell the lease on ‘beloved’ pub the George and Dragon.

Property

Selecting the right pub: the key to success

19-Jul-2015 By Tom Nichols

In a busy market, choosing the best location for your pub is crucial but there are other factors to consider too.

MRO

MRO: Online rent calculator to reveal whether better off free-of-tie

09-Jul-2015 By Emily Sutherland

The Pubs Advisory Service has unveiled its free online rent calculator, which allows tied tenants to see whether they will be better off under a tied or market rent only model.

Property advice

The options for tenants when choosing a lease

09-Jul-2015 By Duncan Young, Mere Commercial

Duncan Young from Mere Commercial, a specialist leisure and commercial property consultancy, explains the options for tenants when choosing a lease.

FLVA updates members on pubs code

06-Jul-2015 By Martin Caffrey

The Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association (FLVA) held a series of member briefings on the forthcoming pubs code last month. Ops director Martin Caffrey provides an update.

Opinion

Respect to those that create the proper pub atmosphere

17-Jun-2015 By Jeffrey Bell

My second career ended on 27 May 2015 when I sold my leasehold and business at the Finborough Arms, Kensington, west London.

Editorial

Let's not misuse ACVs

30-Apr-2015 By Ed Bedington

There seems to be a growing sense of disquiet when it comes to recent activity in the area of Assets of Community Value (ACV).

Business Advice

Q&A: Pubs code and MRO option

14-Apr-2015 By Simon Clarke

Last month, the Small Business, Enterprise & Employment Bill received Royal Assent, with the Government confirming that the pubs code will come into force before the end of May 2016. Fair Pint campaigner and chartered surveyor Simon Clarke provides...

Second Enterprise site for Great British Pub of the Year winners

13-Apr-2015 By Mike Berry

The team behind the Great British Pub of the Year, the Grafton, have doubled up and taken on their second pub.

PUBS CODE

Adjudicator for pubs code by May 2016

31-Mar-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

A pubs code adjudicator will be in place by May 2016 at the latest, the Government has confirmed.

Legal tips

Running a pub: Five legal tips

10-Mar-2015 By Paul Mildenstein

Paul Mildenstein, chief executive of pub funding specialist Liberis, explains the crucial legal tips when starting out as a publican.

The future pub market will be dominated by new super pubcos

05-Mar-2015 By Neil Morgan

In 10 years’ time we could see a market dominated by the largest international brewers, reducing customer choice, says Neil Morgan, director and national head of pubs at Christie + Co

Pubcos denied right to elect use of PIRRS

12-Feb-2015 By Mike Berry

The Pub Governing Body (PGB) that oversees PIRRS — the rent resolution service for pub tenants — rejected a request from pubcos to allow them to automatically elect to use the scheme for fear it would undermine its credibility.

Pubcos warned over compliance with Industry Framework Code

29-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub companies are increasingly waiving business plans when granting new lease and tenancy agreements, resulting in them being non-compliant with the Industry Framework Code (IFC), according to a new report from the Pub Governing Body (PGB).

Tenants groups hail MRO clause in pubs code

25-Nov-2014 By Mike Berry

Tenant groups have expressed their delight at last week’s vote by MPs to include a market rent-only (MRO) clause in the statutory pubs code, claiming its introduction will be transformational for tied tenants.

Legal challenge against MRO in pubs code 'would fail'

25-Nov-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

There is no scope for a legal challenge against the market rent only clause in the pubs code, a leading competition lawyer has claimed.

INSIGHT

Key steps to buying or selling a leasehold pub

20-Nov-2014 By Paul Davey

Paul Davey, managing director of Davey Co gives advice to each party — the buyer, seller and landlord

Pub statutory code: Trade responds to market rent only option vote

19-Nov-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Leading figures in the pub trade have responded to the new market rent only option for tied tenants in the pubs code. New Clause 2 was voted through by MPs yesterday following a passionate debate in the House of Commons.

Government moves family brewers back into scope of pubs code

14-Nov-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Pub companies with fewer than 500 tied pubs have been moved back into the scope of the statutory pubs code but relieved from some of the major responsibilities, following a Government amendment.

Parallel rent assessments 'could produce rents of zero'

05-Nov-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The parallel rent assessment provision in the pub statutory code could suggest that a tied tenant pays no rent, the Government has claimed.

Majority of free-of-tie rents up in capital and Midlands

04-Nov-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

An overwhelming majority of free-of-tie pub rent reviews in London and the Midlands resulted in an increase during the past three years, according to Fleurets Rental Survey 2014.

RICS claims rental valuation is 'not a failure in landlord and tenant relationship'

28-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has called into question fundamental aspects of the Government’s pub statutory code proposals.

Parallel rent assessment provision in pubs code 'could be unlawful', claims BBPA

16-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Government’s inclusion of parallel rent assessments in the pub statutory code risks being unlawful if it means an adjudicator could use them as a basis to determine rent, British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) policy director Andy Tighe has warned.

Robinsons to offer innovative new tenancy agreements

18-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Robinsons, the Cheshire brewer  and pub operator, is to offer drinks discounts at selected pubs based on competition in the local market and what consumers are prepared to pay.

Trade warning over pubs code threat to temporary tenancies

17-Sep-2014 By Mike Berry

Thousands of pubs could remain shut for longer than is necessary unless the Government removes temporary tenancy agreements from the new pubs code, senior industry figures have warned.

More pubs going free of tie to attract tenants

03-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

An increasing number of landlords are being forced to sell pubs free of tie in order to secure a tenant, according to a property agent.

Harveys to convert half its pubs to managed model in response to statutory code

01-Sep-2014 By Rob Willock

Sussex brewer and tenanted pub company Harveys is to develop a directly managed pub business that will eventually run as many as half of its 48 pubs.

Three pubs sell for £7m at auction

14-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

Several freehold properties, including Stonegate and JD Wetherspoon pubs, were sold at an Allsops auction last week.

Marston's tries to sell pub with vacant possession despite tenancy until 2016

02-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

A tenant has complained about Marston’s tactics in trying to sell his pub from under him – which included offering vacant possession despite his tenancy running until June 2016.

Statutory code plans 'will increase risk for landlords', says McMullen MD

24-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

The managing director of McMullen’s has criticised the Government’s statutory code plans for “interfering” in the pubco/tenant relationship and heaping further burden on landlords.

Tenant fails in bid to seek debt waiver from Punch

09-Jun-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A tenant who pleaded with Punch Taverns for a debt waiver has failed in his bid and will be evicted today.