Pub 2501 p05 news 21/1/10 14:22 Page 5
www.thepublican.com thePublican Monday 25/01/10 5
News This Week
UPLIFT IN ENTERPRISE SALES
News Briefs
PUBCO ENTERPRISE Inns has The statement added that rental to around four per cent, having fallen CAMRA hearing
reported what it described as income would by eight per cent during the last
“generally good Christmas trading” be under pres- financial year. postponed
which brought “a welcome uplift” sure throughout The pubco said it was “encouraged
for many of its licensees. the year. that many of these have now been A hearing to discuss CAMRA’s appeal
In the 16 weeks to January 16 However, due able to stabilise their businesses, against the Office of Fair Trading’s
Enterprise said trading had been vari- to the sale of a thereby reducing the cost of finan- (OFT’s) beer tie ruling has been
able but “while extreme weather, number of cial assistance”. postponed until next month.
particularly during the first two weeks bottom-end Enterprise said it had sold or was Lawyers from both sides were due
of January, kept many customers at pubs the in the process of selling nearly 250 at the Competition Appeal Tribunal
home and disadvantaged some pubs, decline in pubs in the period, with proceeds of building in London last Friday (January
it brought extra custom to others”. average net income per pub had eased around £80m. 22) but the hearing has provisionally
been put back to February 8.
CAMRA lodged an appeal with the
New BBPA guidelines should improve tenant relationships
court last month in response to the
OFT’s failure to take action on the
beer tie.
PUBCOS PLEDGE
Fair Pint part of
rent review panel
TRANSPARENCY
Fair Pint members David Morgan and
Simon Clarke, and multiple operator
Garry Mallen, have been asked to sit
on a panel reviewing how rents are
calculated.
The Royal Institution of Chartered
By James Wilmore Surveyors forum last year
jamesw@thepublican.com recommended a review of the
guidance on how pub rents are
CURRENT AND would-be licensees worked out.
are being promised more “trans- A team of surveyors will work on a
parency” from pubcos, after an agree- draft version of the guidance – and
ment on industry best practice was they will then take it to a working
reached. group of pubco and licensee
The British Beer & Pub Association representatives.
(BBPA) has unveiled full details of a
new framework code, that all its
members are expected to comply with Doorstaff move
by May.
The code is a result of pressure on ‘inappropriate’
pubcos after a battering from MPs in
last year’s Business and Enterprise Plans to enforce new mandatory
Committee report. Pubcos will have to be clear about exactly what support BDMs will provide to licensees physical skills training on door
The BBPA said the code “signifi- supervisors have been branded
cantly increases” the amount of infor- pubcos will have to make their policy taking on a lease direct from a pubco. ‘inappropriate’ by a trade group.
mation prospective lessees and on the issue “clear”. BBPA chief executive Brigid Under new government plans, door
tenants will get from pubcos. Pubcos will have to clearly set out Simmonds said that the group was supervisors will have to undergo
Upward-only rent reviews should the support and guidance any busi- “delighted” to reach an agreement compulsory top-up training – including
also become a thing of the past, as the ness development manager (BDM) is with the BII and Federation of physical skills – when renewing their
code says clauses in leases will be expected to offer. Licensed Victuallers’ Associations – Security Industry Authority (SIA)
“capable of upwards and downwards Would-be licensees will also have to which will both be involved in investi- licences from May 2011.
reviews”. undergo training to make sure they gating potential breaches of the code. Kate Nicholls, head of
On the thorny issue of restrictive understand the full implications of the “We look forward to seeing the revi- communications at the
covenants, it does not rule out compa- lease they are taking on. And anyone sion of company codes in the coming Association of Licensed
nies still employing this tactic – where buying an assigned lease from an out- months, to reflect the challenging Multiple Retailers,
pubs are sold on the basis they will no going licensee must receive the same and robust set of reforms we fears the move
longer be operated as pubs. However, amount of information as somebody have all agreed,” she added. will make
doorstaff “more like a
front line police force”.
Critics slam BBPA’s new framework But an SIA
spokeswoman hit back
Fair Pint criticised the BBPA code claiming there is nothing in there that would “improve the position of suffering by saying the emphasis
publicans”. A spokesman said: “Pub companies have a record of ignoring their existing codes of practice of the training was on
and the lack of real sanctions for this code means that they will be free to ignore this one as well.” safety.
CAMRA also attacked the code. A spokesman said: “This code signifies the failure of the industry
to respond to legitimate competition concerns and merely serves to highlight the need for swift • For more details
action by the government and competition authorities.” visit www.the
publican.com
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