Title: Gathering Views and Evidence to Assess the Pubs Code and the Pubs Code Adjudicator’s Performance

The government is seeking views and evidence to inform a thorough assessment of how the Pubs Code operates and how effectively the Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) delivers on its remit. This is an important opportunity for licensees, responsible operators, industry bodies, local authorities, and other stakeholders to contribute insight that will shape improvements to the regime.

Why this assessment matters
– Clarity and fairness: The Pubs Code is designed to level the playing field for tied lessees and ensure transparent, fair negotiations with landlords. A robust assessment helps confirm whether the code’s provisions are clear, accessible, and applied consistently.
– Effectiveness of the PCA: The PCA plays a critical role in resolving disputes, monitoring compliance, and providing independent oversight. Evaluating the PCA’s performance helps establish whether it has the necessary powers, resources, and processes to achieve timely and proportionate outcomes.
– Evidence-based improvement: Collecting diverse evidence supports data-driven enhancements to the Code and the Adjudicator’s approach, aligning policy with real-world experiences and evolving market dynamics.

What we are seeking
– Experiences of operation: Practical insights into how the Pubs Code operates in day-to-day negotiations, referral processes, and dispute resolution. This includes information about timeliness, transparency, accessibility, and the perceived fairness of determinations.
– Consistency and fairness: Observations on whether the Code is applied consistently across different landlords, tenants, regions, and tenure types, and whether there are any disparities or unintended consequences.
– PCA performance: Evidence on the PCA’s timeliness in handling referrals, the quality and usefulness of guidance and decision notices, accessibility of support, and the perceived independence and neutrality of the process.
– Barriers and facilitators: Identification of obstacles to effective operation—such as administrative burdens, lack of awareness, or resource constraints—as well as enablers like helpful guidance, training, or better information sharing.
– Outcomes and impact: Data on whether outcomes align with the objectives of the Code, including improvements in negotiation leverage for licensees, increased transparency, and more predictable paths to fair remedies when disputes arise.
– Stakeholder perspectives: Views from different stakeholder groups (licensees, licensors, trade bodies, legal advisers, brokers, local authorities, and consumer groups) to capture a holistic picture of the regime’s performance.

How to contribute constructively
– Provide concrete, evidence-based input: Include specific examples, timelines, and outcomes where possible. Where data is unavailable, qualitative observations with dates and contexts are still valuable.
– Be balanced: Highlight both strengths and weaknesses, with suggestions for practical improvements rather than solely critiques.
– Consider diversity of cases: Mention experiences across a range of circumstances—new tenancies, renewals, mid-term renegotiations, and varied tenancy lengths—to understand how the regime performs under different pressures.
– Suggest actionable changes: Propose improvements to guidance, resources, training, escalation mechanisms, or reporting formats that could enhance transparency and accountability.
– Protect confidentiality: If sharing sensitive information, anonymise details where necessary and follow any applicable confidentiality requirements.

Potential areas for evidence collection
– Process timelines: Average times from referral to decision, and from initial contact to resolution. Variations by case type and region.
– Accessibility: Clarity of how to access the Pubs Code and PCA services, availability of multilingual resources, and the effectiveness of outreach efforts to small or independent operators.
– Guidance and support: Quality and usefulness of PCA guidance notes, codes of practice, and decision templates; availability of pre-review or advisory support.
– Outcomes and remedies: Types of outcomes achieved (e.g., terms of engagement, dispute resolutions, or revised lease terms) and the sustainability of these outcomes.
– Cost and administrative burden: Any costs incurred by parties in engaging with the Code and Adjudicator, and whether processes are proportionate.
– Feedback mechanisms: Effectiveness of channels for ongoing feedback, recent changes prompted by stakeholder input, and how feedback is acted upon.

Format for submissions
– Written submissions: Up to 2,000–3,000 words outlining experiences, evidence, and recommendations. Please include any data sources or references.
– Short responses: If a full submission isn’t possible, brief notes highlighting key points, plus any statistics or case examples you can share.
– Public consultation periods: Submissions may be accepted on a rolling basis or within a defined window. Please refer to the official guidance for deadlines and submission methods.

What happens after consultation
– Analysis and reporting: The government will analyse the evidence to assess the overall functioning of the Pubs Code and the PCA’s performance.
– Recommendations: Findings will inform potential refinements to the Code, enhancing clarity, consistency, and the effectiveness of adjudication.
– Transparency and accountability: Results and any proposed changes will typically be communicated publicly, with opportunities for further input where appropriate.

If you have relevant experience or data you are willing to share, please submit your views through the official consultation channel. Your input will help ensure that the Pubs Code continues to promote fair dealing and a healthy, competitive pub sector.

For any questions about what to include in your submission or how to structure your evidence, you can contact the designated government advisory team or consult the published guidance accompanying the consultation.

September 14, 2026 at 12:00PM
对 pubs 规则及 pubs 规则裁决者（PCA）2022 至 2025 的法定审查
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/statutory-review-of-pubs-code-and-pubs-code-adjudicator-2022-to-2025
我们正在征求意见及证据，以便政府评估 pubs 规则的运行情况以及 pubs 规则裁决者（PCA）的绩效。

阅读更多中文内容： 评估 pubs code 的执行与 PCA 绩效：征求观点与证据的框架