Beds and Bars founder blasts Enterprise in open letter
Knowles branded Enterprise “totally self-interested”, criticising its actions at a previous site and saying he had received no support from the pub company since taking on an Enterprise site in Camden five years ago.
He said: “Since 1964, my family have rented pubs from various brewers and landlords. All the relationships have worked. We have bought our beer, paid our rent, and where tied, have always respected the tie. We have carried out the terms of our agreement fully. It’s fair to say we are a respected company.
“We invested our own cash in a closed-down site in Burnham Beeches, Bucks, some £300k. Whitbread were the landlords and we worked well together. Promotions, marketing and training was all done hand-in-hand. Then you acquired the site. You applied for a rent review two years before it was due, tried to take away our guest ale, free-of-tie nabs and labs (low and non-alcoholic beverages) and cider. After severing the full term of the lease, you served us with £85,000 worth of dilapidations, which we carried out to the full satisfaction of your surveyor for £20,000. The pub has since been sold by you to developers and demolished.
“I ask what Enterprise has done to assist us in the running of our site in Camden in the last five years? What training has been offered? Marketing? Promotions? Sky charges? What are Enterprise doing about business rates?”
A spokesperson from Enterprise told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser: “We have received a letter from Beds and Bars and recognise they have some concerns. We are keen to further understand these issues and are happy to meet with the company to discuss some of the historic issues raised, however, we believe that the main concern which triggered the letter has in fact now been resolved.”
Knowles will be meeting with Enterprise on Wednesday to discuss the issues.
