Admiral Taverns have become the UK's number one community pub group thanks to an unwavering focus on the working partnership we have developed with our licensees – all of whom run individual businesses in their own right.
Great community pubs, run by brilliant licensees, are at the heart of everything we do. Whether it's a traditional local, a "roses around the door" country inn or a vibrant city centre bar, we recognise that every one of our 1200 pubs is a focal point of the community.
We also understand that all of our pubs – and the licensees that run them – are different, which is why our approach is tailored to the needs of the individual business. It's an approach built on our three success pillars: maximising the potential of every pub; working with talented people; and investing in and supporting our pub businesses.
Our range of flexible agreements are in all shapes and sizes – from fully tied to free of tie and everything in between. So if you are interested in running your own business we will help you identify the right pub opportunity and the right agreement.
Your agreement
Our Code of Practice covers the main types of agreements that we offer. All of our standard agreements of 3 years and above are within the 1954 Landlord and Tenant Act giving you the option to renew your agreement should you desire at the end of its term. Your legal adviser will be able to advise you on the exceptions to renewal. There is no cooling off period within our substantive agreements. Repairing obligations and commitment increase depending on the length of the agreement you enter.
1. Admiral Lease
The Admiral lease is designed to encourage greater licensee investment by offering more security and flexibility, therefore allowing our tenants to grow their businesses as they choose. Licensees will set the term to suit their business plans in blocks of 5 years from 10 to 30 years.
Rents may increase or decrease annually in line with the Retail Price Index and are also separately reviewed every fifth year of the term. The current Admiral Lease does not have an upward only rent review clause within it. However, some of the Agreements that were entered into before Admiral bought your pub do contain such clauses, but on future rent reviews, as a policy we ignore their effect.* (Please see the rent review section for more details).
This means that rent levels are reviewed up and down depending on the realistic needs and potential of the business.
Our leases are fully repairing which means you are responsible for all repairs at the property. You are advised to obtain a full survey before entering into a lease as you are required to put and keep the property in a good state of repair and condition so you should know the condition of the building at the outset. Our in-house estates team is always available for advice and assistance.
Once your business is established you may wish to sell your business and your lease to another party. Our lease allows this after 2 years although depending on the circumstances we will be flexible. If you advise us in writing that you wish to assign your lease, we will aim, within 5 working days, to provide you with details of our lease assignment process and information relating to the relevant fees and associated costs.
2. Admiral 3 or 6 Year Tenancy Agreement
This is a fixed 3 or 6 year Tenancy Agreement. It may not be assigned, but may be renewed at the end of the term in line with the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act should you desire.
The rent may be increased or decreased annually based on the Retail Price Index. Your repairing obligations are less than the Admiral Lease due to the more short term nature of the 3 year Agreement and you are not responsible for structural defects.
The 6 year agreement is similar save that there is a rent review after 3 years and there is responsibility for additional repairs.
In certain circumstances and with the agreement of both parties, we may offer a non-standard 3 year Tenancy Agreement which is excluded from the security of tenure provisions of the Landlord and Tenancy Act 1954. In this instance you agree to contract out of your right to renew your business agreement allowing both parties the option to give 6 months notice to terminate the agreement.
3. Admiral 5 months and 25 days (TMA) and 1 year Tenancy Agreements
Our 5 months and 25 days or 1 year Tenancy Agreements, are short term agreements designed to give an introduction to pub management and Admiral Taverns allowing you to see if it is right for you and we can see if you are right for us before committing to a more substantive agreement.
During the course of this initial agreement your Business Development Manager will work with you to discuss how to take the business and relationship with Admiral forward.
Both agreements are non-assignable and for the fixed term only and may be ended by either party on giving 28 days written notice.
Your repairing obligations are less onerous than the Admiral Lease due to the more short term nature of the Agreements and you are not responsible for structural defects.
With the agreement of both parties, our 1 year Tenancy Agreement is excluded from the security of tenure provisions of the Landlord and Tenancy Act 1954.
Our Company Code sets out the availability of dispute resolution through the company.
As from the 1st March 2012 a service will available through the Pub Independent Conciliation & Arbitration Service (PICAS). In the event that you have not been able to reach a resolution of a problem or dispute with us after going through our company's own dispute resolution procedures you may refer the problem to PICAS. As with PIRRS both parties enter PICAS agreeing to be bound by the decision of the PICAS Panel.
You may make an application to PICAS where you believe that the company has not complied with the terms of the IFC or its own Code of Practice or where the behaviour of the company has not reflected the intentions set out in the Code. Rental issues should be referred to PIRRS but all other matters can be raised through PICAS.
Further details of the process and costings are available from the PICAS web-site www.picaservice.com/
Click here to download a copy of our Code of Practice
Click here to download our Standard Price List
Industry Framework Code
The BBPA, BII and FLVA have recently agreed an enhanced Industry Framework Code which has been sent to the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. The new Code introduces a formalised conciliation and advisory service, a tri-annual review process and a range of technical improvements. This new and Enhanced Framework Code will supersede the existing Framework Code. This is a legally binding document that will be binding on Admiral from the 1st January 2012, with the exception of clauses that require changes to Admiral's own Code of Practice. As a result Admiral's own Code of Practice is also being updated, and will be re-issued by the 31st March 2012 at which point the remaining clauses of the Industry Framework Code will become legally binding.
For full details of the BBPA's Industry Framework Code of Practice, click here
Machine Games Duty
Download the BBPA's guidance on Machine Games Duty.