52 pubs closing each week in UK

[JimboPSM]

Sadly, the pubs that were to be found pretty well everywhere around the UK when I was growing up and which were a major part of the evening social scene are rapidly becoming extinct; from BBC Business News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8161793.stm

UK 'is losing 52 pubs each week'

UK pubs closed at a rate of 52 per week in the first half of the year - a third more than the same period in 2008 - the British Beer & Pub Association said.

Local pubs were the most vulnerable as communities were hit by the fallout of the economic downturn, it added.

The research suggested businesses that provide food were far more resilient to the recession.

And branded pubs and cafe-style bars were opening at a rate of two a week, according to the report.

"Pubs are already diversifying, but unfortunately if you are a community pub, you can't transform yourself into a trendy town-centre bar," said an association spokesman.

"The biggest impact is the recession. There are fewer people out and fewer people spending money in pubs and bars, regardless of where they are," he said.

Job losses

The rate of closures was the fastest since the number of UK pubs began being tracked, in 1990.

The number of pubs has dropped by 2,377 in the past year, to a total of 53,466.

The association's chief executive, David Long, said that the economic pressures of the recession had been added to by the smoking ban, tax rises on alcohol and "regulatory burdens".

Pub closures had cost 24,000 jobs, he added.

"Government should look at valuing and rewarding pubs as community assets," Mr Long said.

"Not only would this have social policy benefits, by supporting a hub of community cohesion, but financial policy benefits in terms of tax revenues, particularly at a time when the public purse is stretched."

A number of pub firms have said that they have been offering financial support for tenants, in an effort to enable them to stay open.

Last month, pub and brewing company Marston's said it wanted to raise £176m in a rights issue. Most of the funds would be earmarked for buying land and developing pubs in densely populated areas, with a focus on food.

[Prenders88]

Not surprised.
It must be hard to make a living with the high taxes on beer, high energy costs, and other overheads.
Then a depression not seen since the 1930's, 3 million unemployed, and those lucky enough to have a job having their terms, pay and conditions cut to the bone.
Out goes the trip to the pub.

[Irish Alan]

And a smoking ban.

[suffolkcouple]

i closed 3 pubs early this year
1 village pub
1 small town pub
1 large music venue

we were tied to buy beer in and was costing us about 1.65 pounds to buy a pint of fosters (example) in.
we had to sell at over double that to make money and no one could afford it.

[BobHelm]

Especially when you can go to your local supermarket & buy the same product for only a little more than you paid....
I have heard (not sure how true though)that some enterprising people are turning their front rooms into 'saloon bars' when Sporting events are on- smoking permitted, all the local "take aways" at hand ...Illegal, but not that easy to catch...

[Marmite The Dog]

we were tied to buy beer in and was costing us about 1.65 pounds to buy a pint of fosters (example) in.
we had to sell at over double that to make money and no one could afford it.

Hopefully the Free houses who can sell decent beer will survive. It's a bummer being in a tied pub and having to force crap like Fosters onto your customers.