Plans to form a national trade body for licensees have collapsed.
The Guild of Master Victuallers approached the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations (FLVA) with the proposal following its AGM in May.
But Tony Payne (pictured), chief executive of the FLVA, has rejected the offer. "We are not prepared to amalgamate," he said. "If there were any outstanding problems we would inherit them.
"As far as we are concerned we give a full and good service for the price we charge to our membership and are happy as we are."
However, the FLVA has invited guild members to join them on an individual basis if they wish.
Members of the Guild expressed their disappointment at the FLVA's stance at a meeting of the National Parliamentary Committee (NPC) in London this week. Bill Sharp, licensee at the Kings Arms, London Bridge, said: "We are disappointed but our door is always open to the FLVA.
"We really need an association nationwide that can help people in pubs."
NPC chairman Bernard Brindley said: "For some reason the word amalgamation seems to stick in some people's throats, which is a shame."
At the meeting members of the NPC mooted the idea of pressing ahead with a national body without the FLVA. However, the proposal was dismissed on the basis that members of individual LVAs would not be prepared to pay a fee to be part of a national body.
Mr Brindley concluded: "Each region will continue as it is. I don't think there's a way forward for a national body and I'm sorry to say that."
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