Rise in landlords asking for help

ENTERPRISE Inns yesterday said the number of pub landlords asking for financial help had more than doubled over the past six months as the smoking ban and a consumer spending slowdown continued to hit trade.

The group, which runs more than 7,700 leased and tenanted pubs across the UK, has offered about £2.5 million more year-on-year in support such as rent concessions and beer discounts to struggling landlords.

About 860 landlords asked for short-term support in the half-year, Enterprise Inns said.