Hosts 'kept in dark' as Punch sells pubs
Two licensees have accused Punch of selling their pubs "behind their backs" to regional brewers while they were busy still bidding for the freeholds.
John Eyres said he'd put in two bids for his pub, the Farmers Arms in Wimslow, Cheshire, and was on the point of putting in a third when he discovered the pub had been sold to JW Lees.
Eyres said: "I'm pretty disgusted. I've been with Punch for six years and they've done this to me — sold the pub from under me. It's been very underhand.
"The pub's been up and down for years and I'd finally got it right. Now they expect me to put in JW Lees beers and everyone to be happy."
The licensee said he planned to email Punch boss Giles Thorley to complain.
Meanwhile Steve Brace's pub, the Bell at Ingatestone, Essex, was bought by Shepherd Neame.
Brace said he had spoken to his business relationship manager about wanting to buy his pub. He spent £2,500 arranging finance and having the pub valued.
"I feel aggrieved that Punch didn't let me know," he said. "I've only been here one year, but I've built up a good business. My customers drink Greene King IPA and Carling, and now Shepherd Neame wants us to sell their stuff."
Brace added: "Punch didn't contact us to say our pub was for sale. We read it in the paper. It seems to me to be a carrot to get the big boys in to buy 13 or 20 pubs at a time."
Punch's response
"It is always our priority to hold clear and transparent discussions with licensees who have put in offers to purchase the freehold of their pubs from Punch.
"All offers are given careful consideration, but we clearly have a responsibility to our shareholders to sell pubs for the highest price that can be achieved.
"In these two instances, the best offers came from JW Lees and Shepherd Neame.
"Punch has been an active and willing seller of pubs to its licensees, having already completed on a number of sales and we are at advanced discussion stage with a number of others.
"Punch offers its licensees one of the widest ranges of ales and lagers available. While the same product range is not always matched by the regional brewers, they know their local areas well and we are sure that they will work with licensees to provide a compelling offering to their local communities."
