British Beer and Pub Association; New Code for Tied Houses

The new Code implementing comprehensive reforms on how tied agreements operate in the pub trade has been published by three leading industry associations.

The Pub Industry Framework Code of Practice governing the business relationship between companies and publicans operating tied public houses results from a far-reaching agreement reached last October, between the British Beer & Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) and the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA).

The Code will greatly improve the openness and transparency of tied agreements between pub operators and lessees. It significantly increases the information made available by pub companies to prospective lessees and tenants. It builds on existing good practice and ensures would-be publicans are better informed and better qualified.

For the first time, the new Code will also ensure that people who purchase assigned leases from out-going licensees will receive the same level of detailed information available to those taking on a pub directly with pub companies.

BBPA member companies will implement the industry Framework Code over the coming months, by revising their own company codes, and submitting them to the BII accreditation body BIIBAS (BII Benchmarking and Accreditation Services Ltd), for scrutiny and approval.

In addition to the new and improved Code the pub industry has set up a cost-effective rent review scheme (PIRRS) to which tenants/lessees can appeal in circumstances where there is an unresolved dispute in a rent review.

British Beer and Pub Association; New Code for Tied Houses