Top Tory meets pub licensees

Top Tory Chris Grayling was grilled on his party's policies towards pubs at a mass meeting attended by 37 licensees at a mid-Wales pub yesterday.

The Shadow Home Secretary was put on the spot about a range of issues, including supermarket pricing, the beer tie, business rates and red tape as part of his election campaign tour.

The meeting lasted about one hour and the location was the Three Horseshoes Inn at Llanfaes, Powys, a freehold pub run by licensee John Harries.

"It went very well. It was a very lively debate," said Harries.

"A lot of questions were asked. The economy and supermarkets were among the big issues, and the rates of closure of pubs."

Members of the local LVA were invited and Harries told the Morning Advertiser that a range of licensees were there, including tenants, lessees and freehouse operators.

"They all had their say. It was a lively debate. It kept him on his toes.

"There was a terrific amount about the supermarkets. They are still doing irresponsible promotions. He said if they didn't [give them up] the Conservatives will sort them out."

Harries handed Grayling a "dossier" of clippings from the Morning Advertiser to highlight issues that matter to pubs and to show the strain that licensees are under.

The licensee described Grayling as "affable" and "quite straight forward". "I was quite impressed. He didn't shy away from any of the questions."

Representatives from the police and council also attended the meeting.