Enterprise defends tenants’ treatment

The All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, which is chaired by outspoken pubco critic Greg Mulholland MP, has released figures for the number of “detailed serious complaints” received against pubcos from tenants since June 2010, the original deadline for updated codes of practice to be in place.

Seventeen of the 30 complaints were from licensees of Enterprise Inns, which has around 6,000 tenanted and leased pubs.

There were four complaints each relating to Punch (c.5,000 pubs) and Marston’s (c.1,650 tenanted and leased pubs) and three from Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company (c.1,300). Admiral Taverns (c.2,000) and Brakspear (c.100) received one complaint each.

Mulholland said: “The publication of these figures really does demonstrate the continued malpractice of the pubcos since the new codes of practice in June 2010.

“The fact that the Save the Pub Group has not actively gone out seeking individual complaints means it is highly likely that these figures are merely the tip of the iceberg of the continued bad practice from pubcos.”

The Save the Pub Group has declined to release details of the complaints.

An Enterprise spokesman said the company has asked for more details of the 17 complaints against the pubco “in order that they may be thoroughly investigated”.

The spokesman said: “The vast majority of publicans understand and acknowledge the role of the tie and our recent survey of licensees’ attitudes showed that more than 80% of our 6,000 publicans were satisfied with their relationship with us.

“We’ve made great strides in the past two years. We have introduced new lease and tenancy agreements with increased discounts and more flexible options."