Supplementary written evidence submitted
by Carol Ross
My rent review was due on 13 February 2011.
According to the Code of Practice they are supposed
to commence discussions 12 months before this date. I provided
my audited figures as stipulated as soon as practicably reasonable,
my end of year 2010 figures were given to my BDM on 10 January
2011. (I paid my accountants to hurry them along for Rent Review
purposes). Punch Taverns refused to put my audited figures (ie
outgoings into their BAM format as set out in the Code of Practice.)
I am no further on with my rent review considering this was supposed
to be finalised by 13 February of this year. Discussions only
commenced in December 2010, because I requested it.
I have written to Roger Whiteside with a copy of
my letters of concern and I have just received another letter
(not from Mr. Whiteside but a Mr. Pawson) informing me that they
will be in contact:
This reads:
"We will endeavour to reply within fifteen working
days having taken the opportunity to discuss the matter with our
operations team.
Should the matter take longer than this, we will
inform you of the new time scale".
This was dated 15 July 2011.
I do believe Punch Taverns are waiting for the outcome
of the BISC before they reply.
I wish to have this noted on record that unless changes
are made to the big Pub Companys' grossly unfair tactics, the
demise of the Great British Pub will carry on.
I would like to point out that my pub is one of the
Magnificent Seven which has been in the Good Beer Guide since
first published in 1974. It has been in my family for 30 years,
over the last 6 years, I have seen the high rents and unfair tie
of beers close many local pubs. I have seen some of the best licensees
go bust and lose their life savings. I have seen good licensees
have breakdowns. This has got to change otherwise, we might as
well close our doors too.
The only reason I am still in the pub is down to
my customers who are lovely people, also this is my home. Pubs
are not just pubs they are part of the community, or they used
to be before Punch Taverns and Enterprise Inns became very greedy
property companies.
I am sorry to have to write to the Committee direct
but I do not think things will change unless we have statutory
codes with fair market rents and free of tie on beers, at least
then we may have some chance of keeping the pubs open and maybe
even see others reopen as part of the community. I have put my
case to everyone as an experienced licensee of 30 years—nobody
listens. I have nothing else to lose.
| 
