I'm going to take the subject back to the "Star" at Acton and say that I have met the the two people involved and know that they have done everything to make the place work. One of my daughters and her partner operate a pub also owned by Enterprise Inns and the firm just operates a policy of getting as much as possible from their tenants without regard to the future success of the business. The company recently put their pub up for sale and without consultation with any one of the family. My daughter's partner decided to make an offer for the business but Enterprise Inns would not discuss it with him and subsequently took the pub back of the market.
It seems to me that these so called Pubcos are a busted flush and soon with any luck go the same way as so many other enterprises that have no real meaning for being, apart from making money for themselves. We used to criticise the breweries for the way they ran their pubs but at least they had a reason for being in the business.
Any way I've had my rant and not much good it will do.
Norman