Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns collectively disposed of one third of their pubs - more than 5,000 outlets - between 2008 and 2012, according to figures from the Fair Deal for Your Local (FDFYL) campaign.
In 2008, Enterprise owned 7,763 pubs and by 2012 this figure fell to 5,720. Punch owned 4,529 pubs in 2012 (excluding the Spirit managed estate), having owned 7,560 in 2008.
FDFYL said that the statistics expose the “catastrophic reality” of the pubco tied business model, and “clearly demonstrates” the effect the business model has on the viability of pub businesses.
“The only solution to this problem is to give pubco tenants the right to a ‘market rent only’ option, which would mean they can opt to pay an independently assessed market rent and be able to buy product direct.”
A Punch Taverns spokesperson said: “It has been published Punch strategy for the last three years to focus on our 3,000 strong core estate, whilst disposing of the remainder at circa 400 per year.
“We are committed to our core estate having invested £48m in the last financial year with plans for the same level of investment this year.
“The claim that most of our pub disposals are sold for alternative use is factually incorrect with nine out of every 10 disposals over recent years being sold as pubs.
“It is puzzling that on the one hand Fair Deal for Your Local criticise Punch for owning pubs and operating the tie, but also criticise us for selling them as pubs into the freehold market.”
