Licensees win extra time to pay rent

A Newquay couple has won a reprieve for the second time to stay at their Enterprise Inns pub.

Inez and Craig Ward, who have been at Mavericks since October 2002 and signed a lease in March 2003, now have until 5 September to pay back the £12,700 they owe the pubco in rent.

Enterprise had applied to Truro County Court for forfeiture of the lease within 28 days after the couple fell behind on rent payments in October 2007.

The Wards had originally sought a 12-month repayment plan but accepted the seven-month period.

However, the Wards will also have to pay Enterprise's legal costs of £4,000 as the fact that the rent was owed was never in dispute.

It is the second time the Wards have won the right to stay at their live-music pub. A judge also ruled in favour of their payment plan for rent arrears in January 2007. On that occasion, the Wards had four months to pay back over £8,000 but managed to pay it off a month ahead of schedule.

The couple now face a rent review in three weeks' time where they will be seeking a reduction on the RPI-linked rent of £35,937.

Before the case, customers from Mavericks campaigned outside waving "Save Our Pub" placards.

Spencer Glazsher of legal firm Slee Blackwell told District Judge Mitchell that the Wards had seen a 30% drop in trade since the smoking ban.

"We owe rent - that is not in dispute - but now have the chance to pay it back," said Inez Ward .