Justice for Licensees founder Inez Ward hailed the Pubco Protest at Parliament a success despite a "disappointing" turnout.
In the cold and wet, tied tenants gathered outside Parliament to protest for a "fairer deal" on beer and rents from pubcos and Competition Commission investigation into the beer tie.
In total, only 26 protestors were at the demonstration, but numbers were said to have been hampered by a bus breaking down en route.
Despite the low numbers, media interest seemed to be high with three different TV crews filming, including the BBC and Channel 5.
"The turnout has been a bit disappointing," said Ward. "But in terms of publicity for tenants it was great.
"I am very happy with the media interest. It is about getting the message out there and I think we have done that."
The protest comes the day before the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee is due to meet to discuss progress made since the damning pubco inquiry report of the summer.
Ben Kirkham, who travelled from the Queen's Hotel, in Bridlington, said: "I just feel really, really passionately that there have got to be changes. Lots of people are losing their life savings. It's a joke."
The Enterprise Inns lessee said the pubcos "have no understanding of how things run".
"I just want them to be fair, and give us a chance to compete."
Bill Sharp, member of Guild of Master Victuallers and the Independent Pub Confederation, said "unless pubcos bring us closer to the free trade (on prices) nothing will change."
Russell Camp, Enterprise lessee at the Wheatsheaf at Thornbury, near Bristol, said he came to "show a united front with other tenants". He said trade is quiet in the run-up to Christmas, down 22% on two years ago.
Paul Naylor, president of Licensees Unite, travelled from Manchester, where he manages the Leigh Arms, to attend. "I've come down as president of Licensees Unite to get the Big House (Parliament) over the road to listen to us poor pub owners who are battling to keep Britiain's pubs open."
Paul Daly, who runs an Enterprise lease in East London, gave evidence to MPs on the BEC last year. "The prices we pay for beer are outrageous," he said. "Things have to change."