Viewers react to ITV pubs documentary

The 30-minute programme looked to cover a variety of points of interest to the pub trade by looking at the illegal demolition of the Carlton Tavern in Maida Vale, west London; the rise of craft beer; local community groups buying pubs for the community; and the pubs code.

Adjudicator scrutinised

The passage of the programme that delivered the most interest was the discussion of the pubs code and the adjudicator of the code, Paul Newby​, who was interviewed for the programme.

Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee (BIS), Iain Wright MP, was interviewed for the documentary and reiterated his criticism​ of pubs code adjudicator, Newby. A view that was backed up by one viewer.

Agree with @IainWrightMP on #ITVtonight - let's get a fairer deal for pub tenants tied to pub companies. Pubs key part of UK communities.

— Tom Warnock (@NEEChamberTom) December 8, 2016

One viewer of the show, however, argued that the positives of the market rent-only option​ (MRO) in the code were overstated.

#ITVTonight program delivering a simplified & one sided view on the tied pub model. MRO is not the holy grail you make it out to be!

— Miss Moz (@missmoz77) December 8, 2016

Carlton controversy

One major discussion point of the last year has been the destruction of the historic Carlton Tavern in Maida Vale, west London. The developers that destroyed the pub were not shown in the best of lights in the ITV documentary.

#ITVTonight on the morning the Carlton Tavern was demolished developers told me: "you'd do the same" - in their bid to turn it into flats.

— Luke Hanrahan (@luketomhanrahan) December 8, 2016

The fact it was a pub is immaterial. Just a case of developers thinking they can run rough shot of planning laws. #ITVTonight

— Stuart Young (@Stuartyoung001) December 8, 2016

Craft beer on the rise

The show showed the rise of craft brewers that we have seen during the past 10 years in a positive light.

#ITVTonight Save our pubs! Good to see micro breweries on the rise. Nothing better than a night in a good pub with good mates.

— Rico (@ThatBoiRico) December 8, 2016

Optimism

Ultimately, viewers came out of the programme reflecting on the positive opportunities available to the pub industry.

Good to see #ITVTonight Pub Revolution not all doom & gloom. Pubs fight back! We are 2 years old this Saturday so why not pop in 4 a pint

— Bevendean Co-op Pub (@thebevy) December 8, 2016

Loving the #ITVTonight show on the pub revolution...long live the local.

— Steven Dawes (@sjdawes73) December 8, 2016

Watching the Great British Pub Revolution, on @itv, with a mixture of fury and optimism. Pubs have been a fantastic background to my life

— Stan Keaton (@StanKeaton) December 8, 2016