Banks host with 'damaged' Brulines kit will not be fined

A West Midlands licensee has claimed faults in his Brulines beer monitoring equipment led to a bill for £1,700 for buying out. But Brulines insists it has found 'evidence of tampering' of the lines.

Union Pub Company tenant George Hodgetts, of the Gate Hangs Well in Coseley, West Midlands, said Brulines equipment had been faulty since it was installed two years ago.

Hodgetts said: 'The Brulines monitor measures 18 pumps, when we only have 17.'​

Hodgetts, who is tied on Banks, was told by his area manager that there was a deficit of around 600 gallons, making Hodgetts liable to pay £100 per 36 gallons when he leaves at the end of this month - a total of almost £1,700.

After a tour of the bar, the area manager admitted that there was a problem, Hodgetts claimed.

Hodgetts insists the Brulines system does not accurately show how much beer is sold.

'The system is flawed and it costs the brewery £25 a week for each pub. They take the information as gospel, but I'm just one example of it being false.'​

Hodgetts is no longer expected to pay the £1,700 deficit.

A spokesperson for Brulines said: 'We rarely have problems gaining access to pubs. However, at this particular site, appointments have been refused and our engineers have been turned away a number of times. ​

'There have, however, been occasions when our engineers have been allowed to make their checks and evidence of tampering has been found.'