GMB leads pubco fightback

The union says pubcos have been "pricing pubs out of the market" with demands for ever-increasing rents.

Pressure group the Campaign for Real Ale says that Britain has already lost thousands of traditional pubs through a combination of factors, including cheap supermarket beer and rip-off rents by pub-owning chains - and more are closing for good every week.

Government Business Secretary Vince Cable has now announced plans for an independent adjudicator to address unfair practices in the industry.

But the GMB warned of a "need for vigilance of the grave danger that the pubco landlords will again try to ensure the small print is vague to wreck the plan."

GMB members briefed MPs today in advance of a debate about pubco rents in Parliament tomorrow.

Pub landlord and GMB branch secretary Dave Mountford said: "If Vince Cable sticks to this plan this is a welcome step forward. It is a tribute to the hard work by GMB tied tenants who did not give up their demands for a fair deal."

The spokesman for tied tenants said pubcos had "priced pubs out of the market with sky-high rents to pay interest to bondholders in offshore tax havens."

He added: "GMB is pleased that the independent adjudicator will have wide ranging powers to address day to day abuses inflicted by pubcos in their desperate attempts to protect the tie and high wholesale prices."