Coffin lessee to end hunger strike today

A multiple Enterprise lessee is to end his 10-day hunger strike in protest against "exorbitant" rents and "steep" beer prices at 6pm this evening.

Colm Powell, licensee of the Punch & Judy, Ivy House and Station House in Tonbridge, Kent, has been laying in a coffin since 24 September and has lost 13 pounds. He still faces eviction from all three of his pubs.

Enterprise Inns said it had offered him permanent rent reductions, discounts and deferred payment terms but as Powell had breached the terms of his agreements it had no choice but to take the pubs back.

"I have had tremendous support from other licensees and my customers," said Powell. "The website has had around 5,000 hits and hundreds have signed my book of condolence.

"I have managed to raise the issue that pubco tenants are finding things very hard and that the British pub is dying."

Powell will be checked over by doctors this evening and although he said he felt "lethargic" and "confused" from not eating, he was in good spirits.

"I have plenty more ideas up my sleeve to raise the issue," he said.

He now plans to travel around the country with the coffin including reading pubcos their "last Reits" outside the Stock Exchange and a trip to Brussels.

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An Enterprise statement, issued at the start of the hunger strike, said: "Enterprise Inns regards its dealings with licensees as confidential and therefore, as a matter of policy, does not normally comment.

"However, in these somewhat exceptional circumstances, Enterprise Inns has sought and obtained judgment for possession of the three pubs that Mr Powell leased from the company. Mr Powell has been unable to meet the obligations contained in the lease agreements.

"We understand a separate unsuccessful business venture unrelated to Enterprise Inns may have contributed to Mr Powell's difficulties.

"That said, we have sought to help Mr Powell with deferred payment terms, special discounts, a late licence application and a permanent rent reduction.

"Despite this help, Mr Powell continued to breach the terms of his agreements, eventually leaving us with no alternative but to seek possession of the pubs involved.

"We continue to offer assistance to retailers who are experiencing difficulties in challenging trading conditions.

"However, we have a reasonable expectation that our retailers will make every effort to comply with their agreements and must act when they do not, as has been the case with Mr Powell."