In 1989, licensing legislation passed by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government made it possible for a tied pub to stock at least one guest beer from a different brewery.
In addition to this, many of the larger brewers were forced to sell many of their pubs off, with the intention that they would become free houses or pass on to smaller brewers, hence increasing choice and free trade.
One consequence of this legislation was that the brewers sold off their less-profitable pubs.
Following a Government review in 2000, the Beer Orders were revoked by early 2003.
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