REAL ale enthusiasts have called on the largest pub-owning companies to give landlords a rent holiday during the coronavirus lockdown or risk seeing pubs close.
Pubs, bars and restaurants were ordered to close on March 20, nearly three weeks ago, and it could be at least as long until they can reopen.
The government has ordered all non-essential businesses, including pubs, cafes, restaurants and most shops to close in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
While some pubs are doing takeaways they are suffering financially as a result of the lockdown.
The Oxford branch of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has welcomed a decision by one of the big six, Admiral, to stop charging rent and said all companies should do the same.
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Spokesman Dave Richardson said: "It's the tenanted pubs that are under the most pressure and unfortunately we could see some of them close as a result of this crisis."
Many smaller breweries and small pub companies have allowed rent holidays, despite the challenges they also face.
But the others have simply deferred rent payments, including Greene King, Marston’s, Ei Group (formerly known as Enterprise Inns), Star Pubs and Bars (Heineken) and Punch Taverns. All have at least 500 'tied' pubs.
The Pubs Code Adjudicator has called on them to support pubs through the crisis, but CAMRA national chairman Nik Antona said it was not enough to simply defer payments.
He added: "Pub companies pushed for the industry standard model that rents are based on turnover.
"As we have consistently pointed out, this means that closed pubs should not be having any rent levied on them at this time.
“Pubcos cannot have it both ways, and Ei Group, Punch, Greene King, Star and Marston’s need to follow Admiral’s example immediately and cancel rent.”
Mr Richardson added many pubs would find it hard to survive the crisis.
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He said: “Tenanted pubs are in the worst position, as they don’t own the properties or work as managers for the owning company.
“The big pub-owning companies must ask themselves what’s best – to show a bit of humanity and cancel rents while pubs aren’t trading, or brace themselves for big losses as tenants default and no-one comes forward to take pubs on.
“Pubs fulfil a vital role at the heart of many communities, helping ease social isolation and loneliness.
"As soon as they’re able to reopen, we need them to be back doing what they’re best at.”
Mr Richardson said pubs were doing their best to keep community spirit alive, running online quizzes and arranging deliveries of food and beer.
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Some have turned to crowdfunding to get by, inviting people to fund future bar tabs to provide some cash flow.
Those arranging deliveries of food for residents include The Holly Bush on Osney Island and The Gardener's Arms in north Oxford.
Mr Richardson added: "It’s also good to see local brewery shops remain open and arrange deliveries but if more people get used to drinking quality beer at home, then that’s another threat to pubs."
Earlier this month Greene King told its tenants it would delay the collection of rent and associated payments until further notice.
Wayne Shurvington, managing director of the group's Pub Partners branch, said it would delay rent collection and charges of insurance, licensing and maintenance for the foreseeable future.
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Mr Richardson said: "There's no doubt that all pubs would benefit from a rent holiday - even if it was for a limited period of three months or so.
"There are some very good tenanted pubs - The Brewery Tap in Abingdon is one example and The Jolly Postboys in Florence Park is another.
"The Brewery Tap is owned by Star Pubs while The Jolly Postboys is owned by Greene King - I know they would both appreciate a rent holiday.
"Some pubs are doing takeaways but they can't be making much money right now and they will have beer stocks which they can't return to the brewery.
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"When the lockdown is lifted there will be a pent-up demand from people wanting to go to the pub but there will be others who have got used to drinking at home and may be worried about going to pubs again so soon after the lockdown is over."
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