Your say

Tenants must unite to survive

I have been trying recently to evaluate the plight of the pubco tenant. My partner and I have 18 years left on our lease with Marston's. Our efforts to upgrade our facilities (at our cost) over the past three years would go unrewarded, if we were to succumb to the pressures forced upon our business from various quarters.

In particular, I mean the Government's ill-thought-out policies, and the current attitudes of the pubcos, who consider little more than their falling profits and continue to put price increases on to the tied tenant.

The continuing attack on supermarkets by the pubcos is well founded, but double standards arise, for example, when Marston's continues to sell ales to our local Wetherspoon at a price that enables it to sell the beer for less than we can purchase it from Marston's.

When I mentioned this last year in a letter to Marston's MD Stephen Oliver, I received a reply from general manager Nigel Dennett with the encouraging words, "I have noted your comments with regard to prices charged by Wetherspoon and a local freehouse".

The time has surely come when the tied tenants of the UK must unite in order to obtain more positive responses from our pubco landlords.

I have set up an email address to enable me to find like-minded licensees currently under tenancy, and for the licensees of the future who are being tempted with offers not available to existing tenants. The address is ph.trap@btconnect.com (Public House Tenants Rights Against Pubcos).

Phil Turner-Wright, Weston Vaults

Via ph.trap@btconnect.com

Darling has totally lost the plot

I am writing to air some general views and concerns.

After a quieter Christmas and New Year than usual, due to the smoking ban and economic gloom, we had the usual 4% price rise from Enterprise Inns, which we passed on (in the main) to the customer. This rise (average 10p) did not pass on the increase in my rent (this rose in line with the RPI), rates, water, fuel, waste disposal, food, minimum wage, etc, which means that the rule-of-thumb 50% GP is becoming impossible to achieve.

Then on 12 March the Budget inflicted another round of rises — not only that, but the Chancellor pledged to raise alcohol duty by 2% above inflation for the next four years. If Mr Darling seriously thinks that the kids bingeing on the streets are bothered about 3p on a litre of cider, or 55p on a bottle of spirits he needs to think again.

To sum up, the problems facing traditional pubs in Britain are: the smoking ban, rising costs, unfair competition, the Budget, and too much red tape. They will all lead to the demise of the pub, but can all be addressed by the Government if it cares at all about British tradition.

Jerry Hudson, the Farmhouse, Horley, Surrey

Setting the widget record straight

I write regarding the piece on Scottish & Newcastle's (S&N) new lager widget (MA, 27 March). The article appears to endorse S&N's claim that this is the first time widgets have been used for lager since Guinness introduced them

20 years ago.

I must point out that Carling Premier has been available in a widget can since 1995. It is currently enjoying healthy volume growth of +28% moving annual total.

David Wigham, portfolio activation director, Coors Brewers