Poor turnout for licensee parliamentary protest

A handful of disgruntled licensees were on hand to make their feelings about pubcos known outside Parliament today.

The event, organised by campaign group Justice for Licensees (JFL), was designed to give tenants and lessees the chance to protest about the pubco business model.

But despite hopes that hundreds would be on the scene, and the presence of various media organisations, there were only about 20 protestors.

Inez Ward, former Enterprise Inns lessee and JFL founder, said: "We want MPs to support the findings of the Business and Enterprise Committee report into pubcos, which is the closest thing we have seen to a true representation of the trade.

"Today is a day for tenants to have their say and to be heard because in 99 per cent of cases it is not them that have been incompetent but it is pub companies."

But Ward said she hopes more would attend throughout the day.

Former Admiral Taverns lessee Gill Hellewell said she was at the event to show her support for those still in the trade.

"I am here to support people who can't get here today because they are trying their best to keep their businesses going.

"There is just no help for the leaseholder, the pubcos are just there to take money off you."

And Russell Camp, lessee of Enterprise Inns pub the Wheatsheaf in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, hoped MPs - who are due to grill trade leaders tomorrow - heard the protest.

"We are hopeful that Peter Luff and the committee will give the pubcos a good kick.

"We are just trying to show that we need to be listened to and that we need some help from the government, because the pubcos certainly aren't going to help us."