IPC: we represent 25,000 pub licensees
The newly formed Independent Pub Confederation (IPC) claims to represent 25,000 licensees and is not for the total abolition of the beer tie.
The IPC has moved to clarify its membership following its launch last week amid concerns it only represented a minority.
The IPC includes key consumer, tenant and brewer groups such as Fair Pint, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), Justice for Licensees and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).
It is calling for all lessees to have the option of going free of tie, new guidance on rent valuation, greater transparency on rent setting, removal of RPI-linked and upwards only rent clauses and a scrapping of the AWP machine tie.
"Just for clarification and the avoidance of doubt, although newly formed the Independent Pub Confederation already represents many thousands of licensees by dint of the national trade bodies who make up its membership," said a spokesman.
"Between them, the ALMR, Guild of Master Victuallers, Unite, Federation of Small Businesses directly represent the interests of over licensees and through their membership, so does the IPC.
"These are not just lessees, but all types of operator. In addition, the IPC brings together for the first time the views and concerns of consumers, small brewers.
Beer tie
The IPC also clarified its position on the controversial matter of the beer tie. "It is also patently wrong that the IPC is against the tie. It is not and never will be a group, which campaigns for abolition.
"The IPC's manifesto clearly states that the tie can deliver very real benefits to tenants and lessees in certain circumstances and where that is indeed the case, we have no problem with it remaining in place.
"What it will campaign for is for tenants and lessees to be given a full and informed choice of the type of lease agreement they are signing up to.
"This applies not just to the beer tie. Surely, well informed tenants entering freely into a contractual relationship which they fully understand and accept and which will deliver healthy returns to all parties is what all sides of the industry must want."
