Derek is campaigning for Punch Taverns to reverse their decision to evict the publicans at a pub in West Cornwall. He has demanded action from Punch and from the Pubs Adjudicator.
Nick Short has run the Coldstreamer Inn in Gulval since 2017. His five-year tenancy expires in September, but Punch Pubs have cut the tenancy short and have told Nick and his family (partner Charlotte and three children) to vacate the business (and their home) by 25 April.
Like most pubs, the majority of the Coldstreamer’s trade comes in the summer months. Punch’s decision will prevent Nick and Charlotte from trading in the busiest months of the year, and recouping their losses after Covid lockdowns hit the hospitality business.
The Coldstreamer Inn is also their home, and Nick and Charlotte will be forced to find alternative accommodation within a month. Their three children’s education will be disrupted as they transfer schools half way through the school year.
Despite meeting with Derek twice on this issue Punch Pubs representatives have not given any reason for their action. They would be prevented from evicting their tenants for arrears arising from lockdown under the government’s code of practice, introduced in November 2021.
Derek has demanded that Punch reconsider their decision, and sought advice and help from the Pubs Code Adjudicator. The Adjudicator is appointed by the government to resolve issues between large pub-owning businesses and their tied tenants, and to ensure that pubcos like Punch follow the Pubs Code.
Derek says:
“Public houses like the Coldstreamer play a vital part in the community – that’s why I hold most of my drop-ins in pubs.
“But a pub needs people to run it, and they need to know that they have the support of their brewery.
“I needed to act not just for Nick, Charlotte and their family, but for all the tenants of Punch Pubs.
“Publicans need confidence that they can run their business – and house their family – without being thrown out for no reason.”
Nick says:
"Before Covid, we were a busy, thriving pub loved by locals and tourists.
“When covid hit we really struggled - we asked Punch for help, but they gave us notice to leave.
“Not only are we losing our business, that we worked so hard to build up, we our losing our home. Our children are settled in at school down road, and now we have weeks to find a property to rent. It's affected us big time.”
Coldstreamer regular Martin Brockman says:
“Nick and Charlotte have built up the Coldstreamer into a real hub of the community and, as a family, they’ve made themselves part of the village.
“The way they’ve been treated is diabolical, and in Gulval we’re disgusted a family is being made homeless and jobless in the middle of a housing crisis.
“I don’t reckon Punch are going to be able to get someone else to take over the pub if those are the terms – and that’s going to be a real loss.”
