I don't know Barton, but it is not at all unusual for the landlord to serve a notice under the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 when negotiations stall. The club will have to serve a counter notice and then apply to the court for a new tenancy. They have to do this because the time limits for doing things uner the Act are strict and cannot be extended. Most parties in most cases however manage to agree new terms and these things rarely get to court.