A positive initial meeting of key trade bodies, pubcos, regional brewers and other interested parties was held today at Francis Taylor Building in the Inner Temple. Attending for the industry were representatives from:

Adnams, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, APPBG, British Beer & Pub Association, BII [British Institute of Innkeeping], CAMRA, Fair Pint, Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations, Federation of Small Businesses, Guild of Master Victuallers, Justice for Licensees, Marstons, Punch Taverns, Society of Independent Brewers, and Unite the Union.

The aim of the meeting was to explore ways that Mediation might be used to develop an industry wide response to the issues raised by the recent Business and Enterprise Select Committee report.

The meeting explored the background to these issues, the benefits of mediation as a process and gave the chance for those present to express their views.

It was agreed that Mediation appeared to offer a viable route to bring about change within the industry and those attending committed to move to the next stage at a meeting to be held in three weeks time on 9 July.

Afterwards, Jeremy Phillips, who chaired the meeting, said, “This has been an encouraging initial meeting which addressed many historic problems in a constructive manner. Everybody present recognised the difficulties that we face, but saw the use of mediation as an entirely appropriate way to try to resolve industry issues ‘in house’. I am looking forward to the next stage of the process”