{
  "id": 1722125,
  "title": "‘A feudal relationship’: Stonegate Pub Partners under scrutiny after complaints of tenant mistreatment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/a-feudal-relationship-stonegate-pub-partners-under-scrutiny-after",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T14:00:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/18/a-feudal-relationship-stonegate-pub-partners-scrutiny-complaints-tenant-mistreatment"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "UK's largest pub company, Stonegate Pub Partners, is facing scrutiny after complaints of mistreating tenants who run more than 3,000 of its venues. The company, which owns the Slug & Lettuce, Be At One and Walkabout chains, was recently named in an investigation by the Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) for alleged mistreatment of tenants. Melissa Phillips, whose father Phil ran a successful football pub for Stonegate, claims that the company knew of his Alzheimer's condition from 2022 but allowed him to exit the tenancy in 2024, causing him financial stress and burdening him with £89,500 in repairs and trade debt. A recent PCA survey found that Stonegate is considered the worst large company to lease a pub from, with a satisfaction rating of 39%. The company is currently grappling with a £3.8bn debt pile, largely acquired through the purchase of Enterprise Inns in 2019. Tenants claim they have been left severely out of pocket and mentally exhausted by their interactions with Stonegate, with some being unable to tell their full story due to non-disclosure agreements. The company, which is owned by TDR Capital, a private equity firm that also owns Asda, has defended its actions, stating that its interests are aligned with its tenants'. However, critics argue that the tied tenancy system is a feudal relationship that entraps landlords in financial loss situations.",
  "summary": "UK’s largest pub company with the lowest satisfaction rating accused of entrapping landlords into financial loss situations “We’re pleased to welcome Stonegate Pub Partners as a sponsor for the Great British Pub Awards 2026” read a post on the event’s Facebook page. Within minutes it had backfired. “Must be 1st April again,” said one commenter. “This is like Pontius Pilate being appointed child…",
  "key_points": [
    "Stonegate Pub Partners faces scrutiny for tenant mistreatment.",
    "Melissa Phillips claims company knew of her father's Alzheimer's condition.",
    "PCA survey rates Stonegate as worst large company to lease a pub from."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}