Initiatives announced in the wake of the most recent Scottish trading restrictions
PUB companies Star Pubs & Bars and Belhaven have both announced further rent concessions for Scottish lessees in response to the most recent coronavirus restrictions.
Star Bars has cancelled rent for more than a hundred pubs in the central belt that have been forced to close due to the restrictions and extended rent concessions – of 30%, 35% or 50% depending on the premises – for pubs elsewhere in Scotland until the end of November.
The company’s rent concession system is based on the level of support a pub has received from government, with pubs that received a £10,000 grant currently receiving a 35% concession and those that received £25,000 a 30% concession.
Managing director Lawson Mountstevens said the latest restrictions “are a major blow to licensees who have worked so hard to get their pubs safely back up and running”.
Pubs that received no government grants are offered a 50% concession on their rent.
Meanwhile, Belhaven Pub Partners has announced that all 120 of its tied Scottish pubs will receive a 90% rent discount for the duration of the 16-day closure period, regardless of whether they are in the closure area or not.
The company has said that all tenants will receive at least a 40% rent discount until Christmas.
Wayne Shurvinton, managing director of Belhaven Pub Partners, said the discounts are to help lessees “at this extremely worrying time for them”.
