CAMRA fears the decline of the rural pub

Fears are again growing for the future of the rural pub as more licensees are finding it uneconomical to run their businesses.

The Suffolk branches of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have spoken out claiming there has been a large rise in the number of planning applications to change pubs to residential use over the last couple of months.

Stuart Bowell, chairman of the Ipswich and east Suffolk branch of CAMRA, told a local newspaper: "The landlord trade is hard work to start with. If people are finding that the numbers visiting are not what they used to be they are going to say to themselves that, if I stop and sell, I can make quite a lot of money."

Tony Payne, of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations, has called for pub companies and licensees to work closer together.

"Pub companies need to look at how they can help the licensees. Whether it's through a rent reduction or other means it has to mean working together.

"Licensees need to looks at every avenue to keep business flowing."

He said that rural pubs should look at taking on other services such as selling food or stamps.

Only last month a new report called 'Ghost Town Britain', produced by the New Economics Foundation (NEF), called for rate relief for rural pubs. The report found that six rural pubs a week are closing and a further 6,000 are expected to close by 2006.