PUB landlords in Southport could take strike action in the New Year in protest at the amount they must pay in overheads.
They will be balloted over taking industrial action against large pub firms – known as pubcos – which sell beer to publicans at rates they feel are unfairly high.
The GMB union, which is organising the ballot, claims pubs are being charged up to double the wholesale price of beer available on the open market, and is demanding a £12,000 annual cut in wholesale payments for each pub.
The majority of Southport pubs are tied to pubcos, including The Falstaff, King Street (owned by S&N), The Guest House, Union Street (S&N) and The Park in Birkdale.
Southport MP John Pugh, who has led a Commons debate on pub ownership, said that the threatened strike is a sign of how desperate the situation is for landlords of tied pubs in the town.
