Brighton MP welcomes new rules for pubs
New rules intended to help pubs have been welcomed by the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown and former pub boss Simon Kirby.
A statutory code will give landlords running tied pubs more rights to help them get a fairer deal from pub companies such as Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns.
An independent adjudicator will have the job of enforcing the rules and can punish pub companies that break them.
Mr Kirby sat on the House of Commons cross-party select committee that looked at the issue – the Business Innovation and Skills Committee – although he is no longer a member. He is now a ministerial aide known as a parliamentary private secretary.
The committee heard complaints that tied tenants were having to pay significantly more for beer from the pub companies that own thousands of Britain’s pubs.
Pub companies argued that this was balanced out by corporate support, reduced rents or other benefits.
But many of the people running tied pubs said that they were being placed at a disadvantage.
The complaints, over several years, were being made as thousands of pubs closed.
Among the changes are rules enabling
- landlords to have the right to review the information used by pub companies to justify any rent increase
- landlords tied to pub companies with 500 or more tied pubs to be able to request an additional rent assessment to show if they are worse off than pubs with no tie
- pubs to have the right to decide if they are tied for gaming machines as well as beer
Mr Kirby said that the new rules would benefit tied pubs such as the Telscombe Tavern or the Black Horse in Rottingdean.
He said: “I am delighted that action is being taken to support tied pubs giving pub landlords peace of mind they’ll be able to get a fair deal on their rent.
“Pubs are an important part of local life in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, sitting at the very heart of our community and creating jobs for hard-working people.”
