Pubs Code Adjudicator

Must protect pubs: Scotland Small Business Minister Richard Lochhead (credit: Scottish Government)

Mixed reaction to Scottish pubs code move

By Gary Lloyd

CAMRA and the SLTA have welcomed a move by the Scottish Government that will see the introduction of a Scottish pubs code from 7 October, if ratified, while the SBPA has expressed disappointment.

How pubcos engage with the pubs code

OPINION

Championing code compliance

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

The role of the pubs code adjudicator is varied and one part of it involves taking time to understand how the regulated pub companies run their businesses and how they embed their code duties into their relationships with their tied tenants. The regulator...

Pub repairs: how the pubs code helps (pictured: PCA Fiona Dickie)

Pub repairs – how the pubs code helps

By Fiona Dickie, Pubs Code Adjudicator

Disputes over pub repairs can be a real cause of dissatisfaction for the tenant, as well as the landlord. Knowing and using Pubs Code rights can help avoid such disputes arising or help tenants to resolve them if they do.

End of legal battle: Star Pubs & Bars and the pubs code adjudicator have settled their High Court case

Star to pay £1.25m settlement over pubs code breaches

By Gary Lloyd

Star Pubs & Bars has agreed to pay £1.25m to end a High Court litigation with the pubs code adjudicator (PCA) that began in 2019 after an investigation was launched into the pubco breaching the pubs code.

Important survey: PCA launches Annual Tied Tenants Survey

PCA launches Annual Tied Tenant Survey

By Rebecca Weller

The pubs code adjudicator (PCA) has called on tied publicans to take part in its Annual Tied Tenants Survey to help “restore the balance” in the relationship between tied tenants and pubcos.

Opinions wanted: pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie said the next tied tenant survey will be starting soon

opinion

Understanding the tied tenant experience

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

The pubs code is a powerful piece of legislation, but I need to know how it is working in practice and tenants are the key voice.

Education expansion: pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie outlines how she is delivering her message of compliance

opinion

Talking to the industry

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

In my role as pubs code adjudicator (PCA), I meet with a whole range of people across the industry to promote the pubs code and deliver my message of compliance, whether that is talking with tied tenants, with the regulated pub companies, or with others...

New strategy: PCA sets out three-year plan to deliver its priorities (Pictured: PCA Fiona Dickie)

PCA announces new three-year strategy

By Rebecca Weller

The pubs code adjudicator (PCA) yesterday (Monday 1 August) published a strategy for delivering its priorities over the next three years.

Recent news: pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie recently appeared in front of a select committee, among others, to discuss how the pubs code is working

opinion

Showing progress in the tied pub relationship

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

I was grateful for the opportunity to appear before a parliamentary select committee this week, to give evidence about the progress of the pubs code in bringing fairness to the tied relationship in the regulated pub trade.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In Podcast episode 45

The Lock In Podcast

The ongoing impact of the Pubs Code...

By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take a look back at the Pubs Code and the impact of MRO - how has the legislation reshaped the UK pub market for the better or worse, and what does the future hold?

Opinion piece: when working well, the pubs code can be part of a smooth relationship between tenants and the pub company, says pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie

opinion

What tenants need from the pubs code

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

With the current trading and economic challenges facing tied tenants, they want to be able to focus on running their businesses.

Discussion welcome: pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie outlines how she is looking to increase conversations with tenants

How the pubs code is working in practice

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

A big focus for me at the moment is boosting communications with tied tenants. I am listening to their views about the code and improving their understanding of pubs code rights.

Looking to the future: pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie says she is looking forward to the progress she can make in 2022

Making change to achieve more progress in 2022

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

As 2021 draws to a close its end is marked by the latest step I have taken to improve the way the pubs code works for tenants, and it is a big one.

Tension potential: 'pub companies should have good evidence that a decision to oppose renewal has been made independent of any code right a tenant may have'

The pubs code and statutory renewal

By Fiona Dickie - pubs code adjudicator

There are several ways in which the pubs code overlaps and intertwines with the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act (LTA) 1954.

Code challenges: ‘Tenants are too busy for complexity and ambiguity because they've got businesses to run,’ Fiona Dickie says

The pubs code turns five

‘The industry can't continue to live in the past’

By Stuart Stone

To mark the fifth anniversary of the pubs code coming into force, and the creation of the pubs code adjudicator (PCA), current officeholder Fiona Dickie briefly reflects on the regulator’s past, present, and future.

Pubco paperwork: According to data provided by the office of the PCA, as of 31 March 2021 there were 8,692 sites under pubs code jurisdiction via the regulated pub companies

The pubs code turns five

In numbers: the PCA's five-year caseload

By The Morning Advertiser

To mark the fifth anniversary of the pubs code coming into force on 21 July, The Morning Advertiser (MA) has broken down some of the numbers behind the pubs code adjudicator’s (PCA) in tray.

Legislative landmark: The Morning Advertiser reflects on some of the pubs code's major milestones ahead of its fifth anniversary on 21 July

The pubs code turns five

Timeline: Five years of the pubs code and PCA

By The Morning Advertiser

The Morning Advertiser (MA) looks back on some of the pubs code's major milestones ahead of the fifth anniversary of its enforcement on 21 July.

Five years on: The Morning Advertiser has launched a survey to reflect on the five years since the pubs code came into force and the office of the pubs code adjudicator was established

MA SURVEY

Tell us: the pubs code five years on

By The Morning Advertiser

As we approach the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the pubs code and the office of the pubs code adjudicator (PCA), The Morning Advertiser (MA) has launched a survey to reflect on the past five years.

Our 2020 numbers show an overall reduction of 381 in regulated tied pub estates to 8,745 compared with the previous year

Opinion

How do pubs code rights apply when a pub is sold?

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

The pandemic is having an effect on many lives and businesses across the whole pub trade – one outcome of this could be pub acquisitions by investors with long-term confidence in the recovery of the sector.

Firm appeal: Star Pubs & Bars managing director Lawson Mountstevens labelled the fine as 'unwarranted and disproportionate'

Star to appeal £2m PCA fine

By Ed Bedington

Star Pubs & Bars has announced it is to appeal the fine imposed by pubs code adjudicator (PCA) Fiona Dickie for what she described as “seriously and repeatedly” breaching the rules over nearly a three-year period.

Broader lessons: 'six well-resourced and sophisticated companies cannot expect to sit and wait for the regulator to tell them what they can and cannot do'

Opinion

Compliance is not a choice

By Fiona Dickie – pubs code adjudicator

Those following the Morning Advertiser (MA) and national coverage of my investigation into Star Pubs and Bars will know that I found Star had committed twelve separate breaches of the pubs code, which they must now put right. I fined them £2m in respect...

Spotlight

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