Scottish Pubs Code will empower tenants of tied pubs.
The Scottish Government is taking action to improve the rights of tied pub tenants across the country.
A new Scottish Pubs Code will enable eligible tied pub tenants to sell a guest beer from brands that have small production levels or switch to a market rate lease under which they could purchase products from any supplier.
Ministers will lay secondary legislation in Parliament next week which, if approved, would see the Code come into force on 7 October 2024.
It will be overseen by an Adjudicator who is expected to be appointed next month, subject to parliamentary approval.
A tied lease involves tenants buying some or all of their alcohol and other products and services from the pub-owning business.
Ministers expect the legislation will deliver a fairer tied pubs sector, with risks and rewards being more equally shared between tenants and their landlords.
In 2023, it was estimated that there were just under 700 tied pubs in Scotland.
Small Business Minister Richard Lochhead said:
“We need to do all we can to protect pubs, bars and licensed clubs in Scotland, which in 2022 supported 34,000 jobs throughout the country and play an important role in our communities.
“I am pleased that we are now free to introduce measures contained in the Tied Pubs Act and give tenants more freedom to choose the lease which best suits their needs and diversify the number of products they can sell.
“It’s in everyone’s interest that the sector prospers and I look forward to working with tenants, pub-owning businesses and the new Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator to deliver these important changes.”
