Pub pain is just starting to bite
THE demise of the British pub has long been predicted but the rate of closures in Plymouth still comes as a shock.
Around 12 pubs have called time in the last few months and more look set to go the same way. Their closed doors and boarded windows make a depressing picture as we launch into the unsettled early days of 2009.
Publicans blame a triple whammy of the smoking ban, cheap supermarket booze and the credit crunch for falling takings.
The demise of any long-standing business is mourned by the local community. But the closure of historic pubs is particularly hard to take.
And it is not just the nostalgic loss which is difficult to swallow. Losing your local pub is like losing the church, school or post office and leaves a void which is difficult to fill.
Communities are being left without a focal point for social activities and people are living increasingly isolated lives.
While pubs, like any other business, need to be savvy to survive, they have faced far more than their fair share of challenges.
To reduce their prices in order to compete with supermarket booze would simply be cutting their own throats. Brewery costs, staff wages and social responsibility are just three factors standing in the way of a price slash.
The smoking ban, while inevitable, has also taken its toll in a city with a higher-than-average incidence of smoking.
While some trendy bars may have benefited from the ban, traditional pubs have lost huge amounts of business as smokers opt to drink at home.
And the credit crunch has rubbed salt into the wounds of an already struggling trade. Savings from staying home instead of visiting the pub are number one for most households tightening their belts.
The pain for Plymouth's pubs looks set to bite even deeper over the coming year but some will survive and even do better as others close their door.
But they need support from the Government to stop them going the same way as post offices and village shops.
4 Comments
by Taxpayer.com, Plymouth
Tuesday, January 13 2009, 12:41PM
“Dave,
You're not alone, my visits to decent pubs have doubled since the smoking ban. I now enjoy sitting down and having some food which always used to be spoilt by one or two selfish people smoking on nearby tables.
Pubs need to take note, smarten your act up or get ready for a cold winter. Get rid of scrotes, start doing some nice food, always keep a few good beers on tap, dont BLAST music out when all people want to do is sit down and speak to each other and dont let your local idiots drink themselves stupid and then start fights amongst themselves. The local idiots will soon run out of money this year but I wont!”
by emerald, plymouth
Tuesday, January 13 2009, 12:38AM
“There are far too many pubs still open - some 24hr pubs it seems!! The reason people aren't going to pubs is because there's no friendly enviroment when you can't sit down, you have to fight your way to the bar, you can't hear to talk to the person you're with, and the cost of a beer can be £4 or more!! I'm happy for these to close down - then maybe we can get a family pub atmosphere back and not go home bruised, battered by elbows, and a lot poorer than when we came out! After all if the booze is cheaper in the supermarket it just shows what a mark up the pubs and clubs are making!!”
by David, Plymouth
Monday, January 12 2009, 1:56PM
“Quote -- "Publicans blame a triple whammy of the smoking ban, cheap supermarket booze and the credit crunch for falling takings". What rubbish ........... Taxpayer.com is right... Since the smoking ban my visits to pubs have increased, been a pleasure to have a meal and a few drinks. The message is change to the customers needs or die like woolies.”
by Taxpayer.com, Plymouth
Monday, January 12 2009, 10:12AM
“The pubs that Ive seen go to the wall are the sort that we wont miss anyway. The ones that will survive are the ones that do a good ale and very good food. The Crunch will sort them out and in general, we will be left with the better ones. It's a shame a few clubs in Plymouth dont go the same way!”