Ian Cass
Ian Cass, chief executive of the Forum of Private Business

The Forum of Private Business has joined the demand for pubs forced to close as a result of the coronavirus crisis to be given rent holidays by the pub companies.

The Forum wrote to all the main pubcos on 16th March requesting that they play their part in preserving the survival of the sector rather than demanding rental payments, notwithstanding that the pubs have had no alternative but to close, and as a result simply have no cashflow to cover rentals.

Additionally, the Forum has joined forces with Fairmile Accountancy, which operates The Pub Owners Network Group on Facebook. Through this, the Forum is working to share information to affected pub tenants.

Forum chief executive, Ian Cass, said: “We are facing the closure of hundreds of pubs up and down the country. The government has shown its support in several ways which will help enormously, but it is unforgivable then for the pubcos not to play their part, too.

“There is a history of the pubcos using unfair tactics, in breach of the Pub Code, forcing tenants from their pubs so that they can then realise profits from developing the sites. The attitude of some of the pubcos is once again making this a likely outcome, with many communities suffering as a result.

“We strongly urge the government to put pressure on all the pubcos to do the responsible thing and bring in rental holidays across the board, and I have written to Paul Scully, the Small Business Minister, accordingly.”

The Campign for Real Ale is also maintaining pressure on pubcos to help licensees. Chairman, Nik Antona, said: “Pub-owning companies must cancel rents during this period — deferring until a later date simply doesn’t go far enough. Rent for publicans is based on turnover, so it makes sense that when a pub is closed and doesn’t have a turnover, they shouldn’t have to pay any rent.”

He praised companies such as Fuller’s and Admiral Taverns which had already taken measures to help tenants.