Two pubs close each day as cheap supermarket beer, high taxes and property prices threaten the traditional "local".

 

The average closure rate has risen to about 60 a month, according to the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra). Four-fifths of the closures are in towns but many country pubs are also suffering as cuts in bus services have added to drink?drive laws and other factors keeping drinkers at home.

 

Mike Benner, Camra's chief executive, said: "There is nothing to replace a well?run pub. Yet they are being lost at an incredible rate."

High demand for housing has tempted many owners to sell to developers, who often turn pubs into flats.

 

There are thought to be about 59,000 pubs in the UK but closures look likely to cut this by several thousand over the next few years.

 

Neil Williams, of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: "Pubs are facing a perfect storm of rising costs and falling demand for draught beer.

 

"That, coupled with the impact of the smoking ban, is making trading conditions very difficult. Your typical street-corner community pubs are the ones really feeling the pinch. The answer seems to be to diversify into offering quality food and other services. We know of some that have opened up as sub-post offices."

 

Camra wants a 1p a-pint cut in beer duty in next month's Budget to help encourage people back into local pubs.

 

Campaigners are also urging ministers to close a loophole that lets developers demolish pubs without planning permission.

 

Source: Sunday Telegraph

 

 

nonsense.... pubs have always gone under and it has more to do with bad management then cheap booze.

I rarely go to pubs, I normally buy some cheap alcohol drink in a house and then go to a club. If I gop to a pub I tend to get a meal and a couple of drinks, but most pubs where I live have cheap pints and things anyway I just don't go as I prefer clubs

Mike Benner, Camra's chief executive, said: "There is nothing to replace a well?run pub. Yet they are being lost at an incredible rate."

 

I think this is the key here to the whole thing as Rob said

 

If a pub is well managed and marketed well and puts on stuff like quiz nights and other competitions to get in the punters and the place has a good record of dealing with troublemakers then it should survive without problem

 

Landlords that just open, sit on their arse and wait for punters will have a long wait

The chain pub has a lot to answer for too. The more Wetherspoons open, the more 'traditional' places will close.

 

Also in some cases they bring it on themselves by almost not welcoming those who aren't regulars - the cliched everyone turns round and looks at you as you enter thing - once these old barflies die there'll be no-one else to replace them and the pub closes.

ultimately is down to personal preferance.... if some dude prefers to sit at home instead of going to the pub then theres nowt you can do about it..

 

plus other factors must be considered... the smoking ban? tougher drink driving laws...

If the pubs didnt want to close down they wouldnt charge such ridiculous prices.

Why pay £4 for something when its £1.50 in a supermarket.

Edited February 25, 200817 yr by Conor