Lessee criticises Wadworth chief

A Wadworth lessee has told the company's executives to "take a look at themselves" instead of blaming a fall in profits on their tenants.

John Glass, of the George pub, in Lacock, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, was responding to comments made by chairman Charles Bartholomew three weeks ago ​ regarding Wadworth's 15.5% fall in operating profits to £6.3m.

Bartholomew criticised the ability and attitude of some of his tenants.

He said: "We still have a number of licensees who either have not the skills to market their pubs or still believe being an average pub is good enough."

Glass was critical of Bartholomew's comments.

He said: "What I was really disappointed with was that he blamed the tenants to a certain extent for the lack of profits.

"If they chose these tenants then why are they blaming them? Because they couldn't find anyone else to run the pubs. They need to take a look at themselves before blaming someone else."

"The brewery is going to take back all the successful bars like mine and put managers in them, while the bad pubs are dying."

Wadworth will be taking over the George as a managed house on 3 October.