Stonegate pub and bar chain investigated over ‘unfair’ treatment of landlords

Pubs code adjudicator says it has reasonable grounds to believe group has breached industry regulations

The owner of the Slug & Lettuce and Be At One chains is being investigated over concerns about possible unfair" treatment of landlords who run more than 3,000 of its venues.

Stonegate Group, Britain's biggest chain of bars and pubs, could be fined up to 1% of revenue, more than 16m, if it is found to have breached the pubs code", legislation governing how pub-owning companies treat their tenants.