Campaign to save pubs under threat

Feb 15 2009 by Michael Kelly, Sunday Sun

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to save the British pub after figures reveal five are closing on average every day. The credit crunch and the duty on beer are just two reasons for their collapse, but a third, much closer to home, has left many people running pubs particularly bitter. MIKE KELLY reports.

THERE was a time when it was many people’s dream to sell up and run their own pub.

In years gone by, it was a fall-back for people made redundant to plough their pay-offs into a local boozer and make good.

The chances of that happening these days are much less, with those in the know saying it would be like leaping from the frying pan into the fire.

A report last week revealed that 39 pubs are shutting every week in the UK.

It has been estimated that 44,000 jobs have been lost in the industry in the past couple of years . . . and there are dire warnings that a further 59,000 could be axed.

Speaking to those at the sharp end, there are many reasons for this.

The increase in beer tax, the economic downturn meaning less people are out drinking, and the cut-price deals at supermarkets.

But equally as important, according to them, is the vice-like grip the pub companies — large and small — have on tenants.

Once they sign on the dotted line, they are tied to their landlords to the extent that they have to buy their beer from them, pay whatever rent the company sees fit, and most tenants are responsible for any building repairs.

Many pub tenants see themselves as cash cows for companies who do little in return.

Neil Amos runs the Newcastle Arms, an award-winning real ale pub close to Newcastle United’s St James’s Park ground. He took over four years ago and, since then, has built up a loyal clientele throughout the week and among fans on match days.

Despite this, money is tight. He’s struggling to stay afloat and is planning on having one family holiday — four days at Center Parcs — this year.

He said: “We’re a specialist real ale pub and have got a bit of a niche market. It’s a struggle. We’re still taking reasonable money but the problem is overheads, which are 18 per cent up in the last 15 months.

“When I took over four years ago, we had no beer festivals for the first year. This year, we’ve had one this month, and others planned for April, June, August and early November.

“We’ve got to do something to get people in.”