[trollied]

Yeah, I was thinking the same. A large proportion of uk pubs are leased by the likes of Star (Heineken), Punch, Enterprise etc, and they really do screw their landlords on alcohol ties. Free houses basically procure alcohol at 1/2 the price. Food GP is much better in these pubs as a result.

[jhugo]

This is a fair point — I have never been involved with, nor really patronised, tied houses, so I know less about the economics of them. The alcohol is still far more profitable than the food regardless; it's just that in a tied house a significant chunk of that profit is being taken by the pub company.