LANDLORDS of independent pubs are celebrating the benefits of not being tied to a brewery.

A report by real ale consumer organisation CAMRA found almost twice as many pubs tied to a brewery were being forced to close compared to independently run businesses.

The report pinpoints high rents and excessive beer prices for why nine of the 14 pubs closing across the country each week are brewery tied.

Tied pub licensees are prevented from buying beer on the open market and are required to pay up to 45 per cent more than their free-of-tie competitors, the report stated. The report comes as pubs throughout Dorset celebrate being listed in this year’s CAMRA Good Beer Guide, which was released on Thursday.

Landlords of untied pubs have said they prefer the freedom of selecting their own beers according to customer tastes and being able to search for cheaper prices.

Mike Carter, landlord of Weymouth’s Globe Hotel, has been in the pub industry for 21 years.

Mr Carter said: “I make a point of getting in the guide purely because I specialise in real ale and always insist on selling quality beer.”

He added: “I like being an untied pub because I can sell the beers I want to sell and I can negotiate the best prices that I can, whereas with a tied pub you are tied to the brewery and have to sell their beer at the price they decide.”

Upwey’s The Royal Standard had its DT micro-brewery listed in the guide just 12 months after launching as well as winning Innserve’s best cellar award earlier this year.

Phil Anderson, landlord of the Royal Standard, said the traditional village pub sold 400 pints a week and was real ale led. He added: “Getting in the guide means that people that like real ale or look for real ale pubs will come and find us.”

Robbie Feltham, secretary of Licensed Victuallers Association, said the popularity of real ale was on the up.

He said: “I think it’s good for the town because I hope there’s still people who want what I want, smaller pubs, independently run, and who look after their pubs and not the big beer warehouse.”

CAMRA praised Wetherspoon pub the Royal Oak in Dorchester for the quality of its ale.