Host gives last minute pubs inquiry evidence

A Punch tenant stepped in at the last minute to give evidence at last week's Community Pubs Inquiry.

Janet Dooner, of the Railway Tavern in Stratford, east London, took to the floor at the Commons with Greene King's Yvonne Cleminson, despite only having a day's notice.

"Punch asked me to step in because I do a lot for our local community," said Dooner.

She runs the local Pubwatch, sits on several local committees and hosts meetings for local organisations.

Dooner spoke to the panel about her concerns: "The whole thing was very interesting. I was very surprised the MPs on the panel didn't seem to know most pubs are owned by pubcos and not breweries."

She explained her chief concerns were over rent, beer ties, Sky prices and bureaucracy.

"I came away thinking I'd told them something they didn't know - which made me proud," she added.

The Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations chief executive Tony Payne highlighting the importance of the role of community pubs.

He said: "They can act as community centres, post offices, libraries. They have to find new ways to remain viable."

Mike Benner and Jonathan Mail, from the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), took to the floor to talk about introducing a new guest beer law, a reduction in duty on draught beer and the right for long-term tenants to buy their pubs.

Benner said: "Off-trade prices have hit pubs hard and global brewers with established brands are at fault. They see a chance to build market shares with a 'stack 'em high and sell 'em cheap' mentality."

All parties felt the DCMS should offer some kind of one-stop helpline for licensees.

The Railway Tavern is opposite one of the sites for the 2012 Olympics.

Dooner added: "Trade has picked up, with workmen coming in, and we're hoping to convert the building into a bed and breakfast for the Games. It has been great for business."

She has been in the trade for 40 years and moved to the Railway when she was just 11.

"We've tried several times to buy the pub but Punch just isn't interested. I think that long-term tenants should be given the right to buy."