Punch barrelage case settled out of court

A court case centring on claims that Punch Taverns provided false barrelage information to incoming licensees has been settled out of court with the pubco retaining the freehold of the pub.

Philip Sambell, Julian Phillips and David Hope, of the Robin Hood pub in Sherwood, Nottingham, claimed that the pubco provided information that suggested the pub was selling 30 per cent more beers than was the case before they signed the lease.

The case was being heard in Nottingham last week.

However in a joint statement issued this week between Punch Taverns and the three licensees' company Beer & Skittles Ltd revealed the case had been settled and links between the two parties severed.

The statement said: "After three days of evidence, Beer & Skittles Ltd, by its directors Messrs Sambell, Hope and Phillips, have withdrawn all allegations of wrong doing by Punch Taverns.

"Punch acknowledges that it is losing good operators, but it has been agreed that the parties will part company and Beer & Skittles will pay Punch an undisclosed sum."

Neither Philip Sambell or Punch Taverns would comment further on details of the out of court settlement.