Scottish Pubs Code: guidance for tied pub tenants and pub companies

Overview

About the Scottish Pubs Code

The Scottish Pubs Code (“the Code”) governs the relationship between tied pub tenants and their landlords in Scotland, ensuring fair treatment and transparency in their dealings.  

The Code is contained in the Scottish Pubs Code Regulations 2024 (as amended by the Tied Pubs (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024) and came into effect on 31 March 2025. Compliance with the Code will be enforced by the Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator (“the Adjudicator”).

The Scottish Pubs Code gives you key rights as tied pub tenants. These include the right to a fair rent assessment, the right to sell a guest beer of your choice, from small brewers with some limitations and the right for you to apply for a market rent only (MRO) lease, to move free-of-tie under certain conditions. The Code also provides rights to new and prospective tied tenants, to make sure that you have the right information and training when starting out.