Made up of representatives from 12 organisations, including the Fair Pint Campaign, Licensees Supporting Licensees, Justice for Licensees and the Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, the organisation has said it intends to "ensure pubs, publicans and pub supporters have a powerful, united voice in campaigning and lobbying government."
The Punch Tenant Network, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Pubs Advisory Service and the Guild of Licensed Master Victuallers are also all founding members.
Liberal Democrat MP and Parliamentary Save the Pub Group chair Greg Mulholland will also chair the British Pub Confederation.
The newly formed group will focus on reform to the tied model, fairer taxation for pubs, better business rates and "fair and sensible" licensing.
Mulholland told sister PMA title M&C that the new umbrella group for pubco reform campaigners is willing to work with the industry towards common goals. The Lib Dem, who led the campaign to enshrine the market rent only option in the pubs code, yesterday announced the creation of the Pub Confederation – a group formed to counter “self-interested lobbying of vested corporate interests in the pub sector”, which he will chair.
In the announcement the group said it intended to campaign alongside organisations such as CAMRA, ALMR, SIBA and Hospitality Ulster.
When M&C asked Mulholland if he would also collaborate with the BBPA and large pubcos, of which he has been a vocal critic, he said: “The British Pub Confederation will ensure that the voice of pubs, publicans and consumers is heard alongside the BBPA as the voice of the pubcos and big brewers.
"We will be happy to work with any organisation on issues and campaigns that we both support, so that applies to any organisation. If there is a common campaign aim then we would certainly support it alongside the BBPA, such on positive taxation for pubs.”
Clive Davenport of the Federation of Small Business and vice chair of the British Pub Confederation added: "The Federation of Small Business welcomes the launch of the British Pub Confederation and is happy to be a member of it. We feel very strongly about pub issues and wish to see the current problems facing the pub sector resolved and commit to fighting for pubs' rights in the future. As with all the confederation members, we are working hard to improve the situation for British pubs."