We took over the tenancy of a pub, and paid a bond of £2,000. When we left the brewery said it was holding on to our money because it was in our contract that we had to decorate the pub. This hadn’t been done long previously and in any case the brewery then sold the pub on again without carrying out the decorating. We feel cheated.
Since the brewery didn’t use your money towards painting materials they don’t appear to have had a reason for holding on to your money. Of course they could argue that they would have got a better price for the pub if you had decorated it, so if you have any photographs of the pub interior taken just before you left these might come in handy. Write to the brewery saying you’re planning legal action.