PUBS CODE SCOTLAND

The Scottish Pubs Code Regulations 2024 (‘the Pubs Code’) was introduced on 31^st March 2025 to regulate the relationships between pub owning companies and their tied tenants and lessees in Scotland. The Pubs Code places statutory obligations on Admiral Taverns (‘Admiral’) and helps ensure that there is consistency of approach across pub owning companies so that you can have confidence in your dealing with us. The Pubs Code is binding on Admiral and is overseen and enforced by an independent adjudicator (‘the Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator, or SPCA’).

The Pubs Code is based on the core overriding principles of fair and lawful dealing by pub owning companies in relation to their tied tenants, tied tenants should not be worse off than they would be if they were subject to neither a product tie nor a service tie and that any agreement between a pub owning company and a tied tenant should fairly share the risks and rewards amongst the parties.

With effect from 30^th June 2025, the Pubs Code will offer an eligible tied tenant in Scotland the right to request a Market Rent Only (MRO) agreement. For further details, please refer to the MRO section below for further details and relevant links.

A copy of the Pubs Code can be found here

Through our award-winning approach, we pride ourselves on trying to develop strong and lasting partnerships with our tenants built on mutual trust and respect.

Our current the Code of Practice, (the Admiral Code of Practice (Version 3) is based upon the principles of the Pubs Code and sets out our own internal processes which we consider to be best practice. It has been issued for the information of existing and prospective tenants and confirms our best practice standards when dealing with our tenants. Our Code of Practice is a key element of the information provision to our tied tenants under the Pubs Code. It gives details of the essential elements of the relationship between Admiral and its tied tenants and it too is underpinned by the overriding principles of the Pubs Code.

In addition, we have incorporated further provisions within our Code of Practice which are supplementary to the provisions of the Pubs Code. These additional provisions outline further standards of good service and best practice which we aim to achieve in our dealings with all our tied tenants but are not statutory requirements and can be amended from time to time.

A copy of Admiral’s Code of Practice can be found here:

The Admiral Code of Practice For Scotland

Details of the Pub Independent Rent Review Scheme can be found here: PIRRS

Benchmarking reports can be found by visiting the following websites:

British Beer & Pub Association 2024 Benchmarking Report

https://www.rics.org/uk/

UKHospitality Benchmarking Report 2022 (please note that there is a charge payable for a copy of this report). A copy of the report is also available for Admiral licensees at My Pub Support

Sarah Havlin, the Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator (SPCA), is responsible for enforcing the Pubs Code.

Further information on the role and responsibilities of the SPCA can be found on the SPCA website at www.gov.scot/groups/scottish-pubs-code-adjudicator.

You can contact the SPCA by phone, email or post:

Email: pubscodeadjudicator@gov.scot

Send post to:

Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator

Saughton House

Broomhouse Drive

Edinburgh

EH11 3XD

T: 0300 244 1225

The SPCA regularly publishes important updates regarding the Pubs Code including bulletins, guidance, statistics and arbitration awards. To view the latest PCA publications please visit the SPCAs website.

The Pubs Code sets out the circumstances and process under which a tied tenant is entitled to request a Market Rent Only agreement or a Guest Beer.

Further information on the MRO and Guest Beer process is set out in the Pubs Code and in Admiral’s Code of Practice.

Our Compliance Officer, Scott Saunders, ensures Admiral’s adherence to the Pubs Code and can be contacted at pubscodecompliance@admiraltaverns.co.uk

You will be aware that yields on real (cask) ales can be affected by sediment created in the conditioning process of the beer as it settles in the cellar of your pub. This sedimentation process is known as the ‘conditioning’ of the cask ale. Allowing each beer the right amount of time to settle before dispense, is a key element of preparing the perfect pint for your customers.

Since not all of the cask contents are available to be served, each brewer individually agrees with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) their own sediment allowance and thus the amount of each cask on which duty should not be paid as it is deemed un-saleable. Yields on cask ales will vary and this will impact upon the number of pints you can serve from each cask.

In order to assist you with your projections on your yields and expected returns, please click the link below where you will be provided with a guide to the sediment allowance for each cask product sold by Admiral Taverns. These are the most recent sediment allowance details which have been provided to us by the respective brewers. We have also provided an estimation of the average saleable volume from each cask. Any changes will be updated as we receive them from each brewer.

Should you require additional information in this area please contact your Business Development Manager who will be pleased to assist.

When purchasing cask beer, please note that all brewers have different sediment allowances (CAS) which have been factored into the Admiral Taverns prices. The table below details the relevant sediment allowances, saleable litres and the equivalent number of saleable pints for all cask products currently available from Admiral Taverns as a guide to assist with selling price and gross profit calculations.

Guide to Sediment Allowance