sustainable business

The Pub Tie: A Double-Edged Sword and J Mark Dodds’ Fight for Change

The Pub Tie: A Double-Edged Sword and J Mark Dodds’ Fight for Change

The pub tie is both a cornerstone and a challenge in the British pub industry. For some publicans, it offers support, resources, and a stepping stone into the trade. For others, it becomes a financial burden, with high rents and inflated supply costs making profitability almost impossible. J Mark Dodds, a long-time advocate for publicans, knows this struggle all too well. Despite running The Sun and Doves, an award-winning pub in London, Mark faced immense pressure under his tied lease, culminating in eviction. Determined to make a difference, he co-founded the Fair Pint Campaign, which contributed to the 2016 Pub Code. While the code introduced protections, it left many systemic issues unresolved. Now, through the People’s Pub Partnership, Mark envisions a fairer, sustainable future for pubs—one where investment in communities and local sourcing restores pubs to their rightful place at the heart of British life.