Thirteen breweries pledge support for Fair Deal for Your Local campaign

20-May-2013 - Last updated on 21-May-2013 at 07:51 GMT

Thirteen breweries have pledged support for the Fair Deal for Your Local campaign, claiming that the reforms proposed will provide better and fairer access for microbrewers.

The Fair Deal for Your Local campaign was launched by 10 organisations earlier this month to fight for a ‘market rent-only option’ for pubco lessees. The campaign is calling for reform of the tied model operated by large pub-owning companies and believes the only way to ensure this happens is to include in the new statuory code an option for tied tenants of large pubcos to pay only a ‘fair market’ dry rent and have freedom to buy their own beers.

Richard Shelton, sales director of Ilkley Brewery, said: “The current gulf between the free trade and the model imposed on a high proportion of lessees by the large pubcos is not sustainable for this industry. A Fair Deal for Your Local is essential to provide a sustainable economic trading environment for all parties involved.”

"We are delighted to support the Fair Deal for Your Local campaign. The reform being called for will provide benefits for the producer, the pub owner, the lessees and the customer. Common sense must prevail.”

Dr Paul Briscoe of Briscoe’s Brewery said: “I fully support the Fair Deal for Your Local campaign. It would give licensees the opportunity to purchase more beer from smaller local breweries, thereby increasing consumer choice, stimulating the local economy and lessening environmental impact”.

Greg Mulholland MP, co-ordinator of the Fair Deal for Your Local campaign and Chair of the Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, said: “It is fantastic to have the first brewers signed up to support the Fair Deal for Your Local campaign and I am delighted Ilkley Brewery and Briscoe’s Brewery having given the campaign their backing.

"Their comments showcase the benefits our proposed reform will bring to our wonderful small brewers who are doing really well and are hampered only by not being able to sell direct to many local pubs who want to sell their beer.

“I hope their public support will encourage microbreweries up and down the country to come out and support the Fair Deal for Your Local campaign which would lead to greater access to market which could help them expand as well as being great news for beer drinkers.

“I would ask all microbreweries who wish to pledge their support to sign up to the campaign online as well emailing the Save the Pub Group.

“A Fair Deal for Your Local would make many more pubco tied pubs viable, would see more pubs in local hands and would increase access to market for small breweries – all of which would be a boost to the economy locally and nationally”.

The 13 breweries are: