The campaign is a coalition of ten organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses, the Forum of Private Business and Campaign for Real Ale and is calling on the Government to give local pubs a fair deal by introducing reform of the tied model operated by large pub owning companies.
The group is campaigning for the introduction of a ‘market rent-only option’ for pubco lessees. The Government is currently consulting on the introduction of a statutory code and adjudicator to manage the relationship between pubcos and tenants. This consultation ends of 14 June.
Speakers at the event include include chair of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group (APPBG) and Campaign Coordinator of Fair Deal for Your Local Greg Mulholland MP, vice chair of the APPBG Grahame Morris MP, former chair of the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee (BISC) Peter Luff MP, shadow pubs minister Toby Perkins MP, Clive Davenport from the Federation of Small Businesses and Simon Clarke founder of Fair Pint.
Liberal Democrat MP Mulholland said: “The Save the Pub Rally in support of the Fair Deal for Your Local campaign is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate to Government Ministers exactly why reform is needed.
“By bringing together tied licensees, CAMRA members and pub-lovers on the June 5 we will be able to show the Government that campaigners from across the sector and indeed up and down the country have united to call for a fair deal for local pubs.”
While Labour MP Morris said: “MPs from all round the country and in all parties are sick and tired of hearing of how large pubcos have been taking more than is fair or sustainable from pub profits. Many licensees are unable to even earn the minimum wage, despite having a decent turnover.
“The APPBG is backing Fair Deal for Your Local and urging all current and former tied licensees, pub customers and all who love their pubs to get involved and tell BIS that they support the market rent only option and demand at last a fair deal for their local pub.”
APPBG vice chair, Brian Binley MP (Conservative) and member of BISC agreed: “The BISC and predecessor committees have looked into this serious problem no less than four times in eight years and clearly concluded that legislation is required to stop the endemic overcharging that the committee showed stops licensees making a fair living. Our investigation showed that 67% of lessees of tied pubs said that they earned less than £15,000 per annum. Even where pubs had a turnover of more than £500,000 a year, over 50% of lessees earned less than £15,000."
Simon Clarke, founder of Fair Pint added: “Real, meaningful reform is an absolute must if Great Britain is to retain its pub legacy and the rally aims to continue to press for all pubs to be able to trade on a level playing field without fear of repercussions from their pub company.”
Licensees can attend the rally which is to be held on the evening of 5 June. Places are available on a first come first served basis. Email savethepubappg@camra.org.uk. The venue will be released to attendees ahead of the event.