Your chance to save the UK's pubs!

[NigelDonnelly]

Don't want to get political on you, but there is an important debate in Parliament next week where one of the big problems facing UK pubs is being debated. The idea is to abolish the Beer Tie, a mechanism by which publicans are forced to pay a fortune for their beer by the very same companies who flog cheap cans to the supermarkets. The net result is pubs closing at an unprecedented rate.

But all is not lost!

http://campaign.publicaffairsbriefing.co.uk/home.aspx?cid=bea1f084-c928-4c17-9207-f620709a2cbf

Visit this site and you can email your MP with one minute of effort, asking them to support a fair deal for British pubs. Next time you are in a nice country pub, it'll make that pint taste all the sweeter...

Cheers!

 

[ValA.]

The beer tie isn't the only problem, though, unfortunately. The rents are huge as are business rates, there are less people using pubs these days, the smoking ban has had an impact, as have longer opening hours which all have to be staffed even when no one is in the place. We have friends who were tenants, and have had to get out of the Pub trade - and there are currently seven closed down pubs in our smallish town! I doubt that any of them will reopen.

 

[Parksy]

The backbench motion is being tabled by Adrian Bailey MP who represents the constituency where I live and the cause is dear to the heart of many of his constituents, not least myself.
I'm hoping that Mr Bailey and his colleagues can persuade the Government to end the practice whereby public houses, which are vital to the community in many ways, are forced to buy beer at unfair and uncompetitive prices set by large pub companies.
That sort of big business bullying has no place in 21st century Britain and is a restriction on free trade.
I've seen many potentially good pub landlords sink their life savings into pubs which should have provided them with a decent long term income in reward for their efforts to improve their business, only to lose everything because these pub companies raise the price of beer to the landlord if he sold above a certain amount.
The landlord has either been forced to put his prices up, thus driving hard won custom elsewhere, or absorb the price increases which has meant that they have worked long hours for little or no profit.
Pubco's were keen to sell old long established public houses during the property boom, their shareholders were keener on a quick profit than long term support and investment and this is one of the reasons why so many once familiar pubs were auctioned off and demolished with unseemly haste, with flats and houses springing up like mushrooms on the sites of former pubs.
The nice country pub mentioned by Nigel is rapidly becoming a gastro pub or restaurant rather than a real pub as a result of the beer tie, because landlords struggle to make a living when selling drinks. A quick email to your MP might save a few of those remaining.

 

[Surfer]

We go to our local once a week when at home or visit a pub local to where we are sited. We will only have one or two rounds as that is £10 down the toilet. It has become to expensive to have a drink in a pub now. We used to enjoy popping into the pub on a Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for two or three drinks as our pub is a community pub being rural, but now that is out of the question. Generally we buy a case of beer from the supermarket and this can last me up to 3 or more months even when in the caravan.

 

[RogerL]

Sadly, modern pubs don't exist for adult drinking - they exist for family eating.
All of the chain pubs in our area are fairly busy all day serving food from 11 or 12 to 9 or 10 and some of them packed for long periods. It doesn't seem to matter to their popularity what price the beer is, from £1.70/pint to over double that. Nearby, but not in walking distance, we have a Crown Carvery and a Marstons pub and we use them about once a week each - a meal and a pint is £6.24 in one and from £5.79 upwards at the other
The local independents that sell food are surviving but struggling more than the chains but the local independents that don't do food have largely gone, most demolished for housing.
The days are long gone when I could keep a pub going on my own, by walking down every night and spending all evening there - but my liver has at least got a chance now!

 

[NigelHutson]

And I always thought that you were Tea Total Mr Donnelly!
Petition duly completed for us that aren't

 

[NigelDonnelly]

We always try and visit local pubs when away but the amount of them which are closing their doors is frightening. I live in Staines (soon to be 'on-Thames!') and we've lost two town centre pubs in the last year, both of which were pubs for a drink, rather than food pubs. I fear that is pretty typical...

Incidentally, my in-laws assist with a community pub in rural Devon, doing the book keeping amongst other jobs. They said the numbers really don't stack up on weeks where the pub doesn't sell much food and that wet sales are simply insufficient to sustain the business. This is a pub which has been in the village for 300 years and prior to the last ten years has never had a problem. If habits and tastes are changing, that's one thing, but if these businesses simply need a level playing field in order to survive, that needs addressing and hopefully, the CAMRA campaign above can do something toward it.

 

[NigelDonnelly]

Nigel207,

As you know, I only drink when there is a Thursday in the month

 

[NigelDonnelly]

We go to our local once a week when at home or visit a pub local to where we are sited. We will only have one or two rounds as that is £10 down the toilet. It has become to expensive to have a drink in a pub now. We used to enjoy popping into the pub on a Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for two or three drinks as our pub is a community pub being rural, but now that is out of the question. Generally we buy a case of beer from the supermarket and this can last me up to 3 or more months even when in the caravan.

Definintely the case that pubs are now an expensive way to drink and I'm sure we all keep an appropriate 'stash' in the van and I don't blame a pub for selling food to make a decent living. I'd also say though, that anything that eases the burden on the hugely pressured pubs should be welcomed.

 

[Wigandiver]

E mail sent, and I'll help more by having a few pints and a meal tonight at one of our local country pubs.

Jim.

 

[DeliDave_]

Done it and best of luck to them.Sadly I think the pubchains, like banks ,will just think of another way to raise their profits.The Krays could have learned from some of these companies.

 

[Taff]

Done it. We need to save the pubs.

 

[NigelDonnelly]

Too right! Well done everyone!

 

[Sproket]

Business is booming at paramount investments
The property firm, which specialises in selling off former pubs, has found that the local boozer represents a lucrative market.

One of the biggest attractions for developers looking to snap up pubs
at prices typically ranging from 150,000 to 450,000 – is the fact they come with A4 planning consent.
some changes are considered as 'permitted development' under the Use Classes Order 1987. Pubs and bars for example, are in the A4 ‘Drinking Establishment’ class, and conversion is permitted to the following; A1 use as Shops and Retail ; A2 use for Financial and professional services; A3 use for Restaurants and cafés.

 

[Surfer]

We always try and visit local pubs when away but the amount of them which are closing their doors is frightening. I live in Staines (soon to be 'on-Thames!') and we've lost two town centre pubs in the last year, both of which were pubs for a drink, rather than food pubs. I fear that is pretty typical...

Incidentally, my in-laws assist with a community pub in rural Devon, doing the book keeping amongst other jobs. They said the numbers really don't stack up on weeks where the pub doesn't sell much food and that wet sales are simply insufficient to sustain the business. This is a pub which has been in the village for 300 years and prior to the last ten years has never had a problem. If habits and tastes are changing, that's one thing, but if these businesses simply need a level playing field in order to survive, that needs addressing and hopefully, the CAMRA campaign above can do something toward it.

A few years ago we stayed at a lovely pub in Staines right on the river. I think it was the Swan. Very popular. Is it still there?

 

[PhilFraeHowMill]

Nigel
Duly completed, also added to my Facebook page for added effect.
Phil

 

[ProfJohnL]

Pubs are one of our traditions in the UK and I agree it is a shame that so many seem to be closing, but I believe they are costing themselves out of the market. The open all day policy is driving up costs.

I am usually the driver when we go out,and consequently I try to drink soft drinks. But I am always staggered at what licensed premises charge for non alcoholic drinks, and that discourages me from going out.

In many cases soft drinks cost more than the alcoholic on which the pub pays a significant additional tax burden.

This inequity in pricing does not encourage sensible drinking. or make pubs accessible to low income families.

 

[Parksy]

By way of an update, Members of Parliament have agreed to call on the Government to commission an independent review of self regulation of the pub industry in Autumn 2012.
The question put and agreed to was:-
'That this House believes that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ proposals for reform of the pub industry fall short of the undertaking given to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee in July 2010 and that only a statutory code of practice which includes a free-of-tie option with an open market rent review and an independent adjudicator will resolve the contractual problems between the pub companies and their lessees; and calls on the Government to commission a review of self-regulation of the pub industry in the Autumn of 2012 to be conducted by an independent body approved by the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee.'

Here is a transcript of the proceedings, hopefully the fine words will be translated into action to improve the lot of tied pub landlords.

 

[NigelDonnelly]

A few years ago we stayed at a lovely pub in Staines right on the river. I think it was the Swan. Very popular. Is it still there?

The Swan is still there - cracking riverside location means that one should be safe for a while yet!

 

[Gagakev]

Went to a nice country pub beside the river last night,( OH birthday) it was dark so couldnt see the river

5 adults and grandson nice food real ales and friendly staff, 3 courses and a couple of pints, good time had by all

When I got home it got me thinking could have had at least 10 to 12 nights on a pitch for the same price. Glad her birthday is only once a year