Demand for Cornish pubs growing

A surge of people looking for a better lifestyle is leading to a huge demand for Cornwall pubs, according to a local property expert. People are flocking to the county with a view to running a pub as an alternative to city life, according to Jeremy Beeching, a chartered surveyor with Scott Burridge Chick in Truro. The success of low-cost airlines and new Cornish tourist attractions such as the Eden Project have fuelled the trend. Parents supply kids with drink' Parents are regularly supplying children as young as nine with alcohol, according to the Institute of Alcohol Studies. The think tank said many parents see little wrong with giving beer and spirits to teenage or even pre-teen children. Institute director Andrew McNeill said alcohol consumed by children tended to come from home rather than licensed premises. "A lot of parents think it's okay, as long as it isn't drugs," he said. Paveley takes on key Punch role Former Greene King strategy director Jonathan Paveley has been appointed commercial director Punch Taverns. Paveley, 40, will be responsible for corporate and commercial strategy and purchasing. During his eight years with Greene King, he played key roles in the purchase of the Magic Pub Company in 1996 and Old English Inns in 2001. See p14 Royal Oak re-opens after £1m spend A Grade II-listed pub that was accidentally burnt down three years ago re-opens today following a £1m spend. The Royal Oak in Hawkhurst, Kent, owned by Unique, has been rebuilt using green oak and traditional building methods used in medieval and Georgian times. The pub features a 35-seat restaurant, a function room, a courtyard garden and 13 letting bedrooms. Otley hosts seek CCTV to counter thugs Frustrated hosts in Otley, near Bradford, are demanding CCTV systems to cope with hordes of troublesome youths. Problems faced by licensees, aired at a meeting of Otley Pub Watch last week, include repeated vandalism against cars and property, missiles thrown at passers-by, and insulting gestures to residents. Pubwatch members agreed to write to Otley Town Council to outline their plea for cameras. Actress King is Bods new star turn Ex-Cold Feet star Alison King is the new face of Boddingtons beer, replacing TV presenter Melanie Sykes. King stars in the new Boddingtons ad campaign, launched this week. She said: "I was thrilled to be chosen as the girl to deliver the infamous end line in a Boddingtons advert.