Recent Events at the Rising Sun
To clarify the sequence of events around the purchase of the Rising Sun public house by Young and Co, here is a timeline detailing the communications and dealings between Dave and Ruth and Young's to date.
22nd May 2006
The Rising Sun received a letter from Young's Brewery advising that they would be buying the freehold of the pub.
A meeting was arranged for 1st June.
1st June 2006
Morning
The pub received a telesales call from Young's asking for the beer order. The staff member who took the call was understandably rather upset as, whilst she had be told by Ruth about the purchase, she had not expected contact before the meeting.
Afternoon
At the meeting with Young's Head of Tenanted Houses, Mr Tom Hutchings, Dave was given a letter revoking a clause in the lease which enabled him to buy whatever products he wished.
With immediate effect Pilgrim ales would have to be replaced by Young's beers and their range of industrial draught lagers and cider and stouts. The choice of bottled beers was also to be replace although a period might be given to allow stocks to be run down.
Three stark choices were offered to Dave
- to surrender the lease to Young's
- to continue to work the pub as tenants of Young's
- to work the pub as tenants and sell the lease (the lease which the previous day was a "free of tie" gem and next was tied and now almost unsaleable; as the trade so carefully built up as an independent pub would quickly vanish.)
The Young's BDM left a pile of beer towels and marketing material: an insult to a man who has striven for 7 years to run an independent pub.
At a stroke Young's has tried to wipe out the ethos and philosophy of an unique little pub. The decision makers have seemed to completely fail to understand the USP of this business.
It was agreed that the meeting should be re-convened on 8th June.
2nd June 2006
A letter was received telling Dave and Ruth that in addition to the 8 June meeting they would also be visiting with a Surveyor and cellar technicians the next Monday 5th June.
Ruth rang to request a delay as they faced a very busy Derby weekend. This request was refused on the basis that "notice had been given".
4th June 2006
On 4th June Dave e-mailed the Chief Executive about the conduct of the Wednesday meeting and also sent a letter to the Head of Tenancies stating that he could not have any meetings until he had received from the previous owners, an official confirmation of the sale. Young's unseemly haste had overtaken the legal process.
5th June 2006
Despite the letter of the 4th, the Young's party arrived on Monday 5th June. Unfortunately the pub was closed that lunch hour so they contented themselves by taking photographs of the Rising Sun.
9th June 2006
Letter of confirmation of sale arrives.
A meeting was arranged for Tuesday 13th June.
12th June 2006
Leisure Supply Group Helpline service, on behalf of Young's, ring to see if we need any of their services.
We hope that the executives of Young's will now have had time to realise that this little pub with its' loyal community and ecletic range of products which attracts custom from far and wide will not continue if its' freedom to buy is curtailed.
It is also hoped that they will understand that this is a pub in which the current licensee, Dave was intimately involved in the financing, design and execution of this pub from the very start; and that the intent of the lease because of his involvement was that the pub should be run with a freedom to purchase.
Young's can still take action to avoid a serious business error.
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