Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator: annual delivery plan 2025-2026

Annual priorities

In 2025/26 our goal is to foster a balanced and sustainable environment for Scotland’s tied pub sector—one that acknowledges and respects the interests of tenants, pub-owning companies, and the broader hospitality industry.

Taking each commitment in turn:

• tenant engagement
• regulatory oversight
• collaboration & outreach
• continuous improvement

Tenant engagement

Strengthening support for tied pub tenants by providing clear guidance, accessible resources, and effective dispute resolution mechanisms.

In 25/26 we will:

• enhance accessibility: improve access to guidance materials by developing user-friendly online resources, including step-by-step guides and case studies to support tenants in understanding their rights
• expand outreach: conduct targeted engagement sessions with tied pub tenants across Scotland to address concerns, gather feedback, and provide tailored advice
• streamline dispute resolution: strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms by refining processes for handling complaints efficiently, ensuring fair outcomes and timely responses
• collaboration and support: work closely with industry stakeholders, tenant associations, and legal advisors to enhance available support and drive constructive dialogue within the sector
• continuous improvement: monitor tenant experiences, assess evolving challenges, and adapt our strategies to ensure ongoing effectiveness in delivering transparent and practical solutions. Provide tenant feedback directly into the Scottish Government’s statutory review of the Scottish Pubs Code and the Adjudicator’s performance, ensuring that tenant voices are central to future improvements

Key Strategic Measure

Track uptake and usage of new guidance materials, aiming for a 25% increase in downloads and views in year.

Regulatory oversight

Monitoring compliance with statutory requirements, addressing concerns, and ensuring that businesses operate within the legal framework.

In 2025/26 we will:

• strengthen compliance monitoring: conduct targeted assessments to ensure pub-owning businesses are adhering to the Scottish Pubs Code Regulations 2024, promoting fair practices and transparency
• address tenant concerns effectively: Improve reporting mechanisms for tenants, ensuring concerns are addressed promptly and consistently within the regulatory framework
• enhance data-driven oversight: utilise insights from case reviews and industry feedback to identify trends, refine policies, and proactively address emerging challenges
• increase stakeholder engagement: work closely with trade organizations, pub-owning businesses, and tenant groups to drive improvements in compliance and dispute resolution
• refine regulatory guidance: develop clearer, more accessible guidance to assist businesses and tenants in understanding and meeting their obligations under the law

Key Strategic Measure

Track adherence through annual compliance reviews, with a target of resolving 90% of identified issues within six months of each review’s completion.

Collaboration and outreach

Building relationships with stakeholders across the pub sector to enhance awareness and encourage best practices.

In 2025/26 we will:

• expand stakeholder engagement: strengthen relationships with tied pub tenants, pub-owning businesses, trade associations, and legal experts to promote best practices and industry-wide improvements
• facilitate knowledge sharing: organise forums, workshops, and advisory sessions to enhance awareness of regulatory requirements and encourage proactive compliance
• promote transparent communication: develop clear and accessible guidance to improve understanding among all stakeholders and support informed decision-making
• encourage industry collaboration: foster constructive dialogue between tenants and pub-owning businesses, working towards fair and mutually beneficial agreements
• support sector development: contribute to wider discussions on the future of Scotland’s tied pub sector, ensuring that regulation continues to evolve to meet industry needs

Key Strategic Measure

Host stakeholder engagement activities, with post-event feedback indicating 85% + found them useful for improving awareness and collaboration.

Continuous Improvement

Reviewing and refining processes to ensure efficiency, responsiveness, and transparency in adjudication decisions.

In 2025/26 we will:

• enhance adjudication efficiency: streamline case management processes to ensure timely, fair, and consistent decision-making for all disputes
• improve accessibility: make guidance and adjudication outcomes clearer and more accessible, enabling tenants and pub-owning businesses to navigate regulatory requirements with confidence
• leverage data and insights: analyse case trends and stakeholder feedback to refine our approach, identify emerging challenges, and proactively address areas of concern
• increase transparency: strengthen communication around adjudication procedures, providing stakeholders with greater clarity on decision- making criteria and expectations
• commit to ongoing development: regularly review and adapt our regulatory framework to ensure it remains effective, practical, and responsive to the evolving needs of Scotland’s tied pub sector

Key Strategic Measure

Resolve 90% of adjudication cases within 3 months, with published summaries and guidance updates issued quarterly to reflect key trends and learning.