Last orders: Boss of under-fire pub regulator defends her record
The Pubs Code Adjudicator, Fiona Dickie, is preparing to step away early next year. She tells Felix Armstrong why the beleaguered watchdog deserves a future Can an industry watchdog be effective if it has launched only two investigations in its 10 years of existence? Yes – at least according to Fiona Dickie, the Pubs Code [...]
Fiona Dickie, the Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA), is set to leave her role early next year. Despite launching only two investigations in her decade-long tenure since the PCA's establishment in 2016, Dickie maintains the watchdog's effectiveness. She explains that excessive investigations would raise concerns about over-regulation. Dickie, a former judge, emphasizes the PCA's role in protecting tenants of the UK's six largest pub companies, mainly through dispute resolution and providing advice on the market rent only (MRO) arrangement.
The watchdog, which operates from a single floor in Birmingham with a staff of 12, is striving to leverage its limited resources effectively. Despite criticism from some in the industry, Dickie staunchly defends the PCA, stating they are an independent public body committed to treating tied tenants fairly. As she prepares to depart, Dickie is eager to spend more time as a regular pub-goer, preferring a dark ale as her favorite pint.
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