The rescuers

CAMRA's new pub preservation initiative is all set on helping tight-knit communities hang on to their local pub. James Wilmore reports.

In our increasingly commercialised society, where soulless chain pubs and bars dominate high streets, it's refreshing for consumers to find something "authentic". For hundreds of years local pubs have provided this authenticity - a focal point for communities, a place to catch up on news and enjoy a decent chinwag with friends.

But many locals are now under threat. According to research by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) revealed at the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF), 26 pubs are closing a month, permanently. Many are being demolished or converted into houses, restaurants, shops and offices.

It's a distinctly worrying trend that has inspired CAMRA to set up its own pub preservation initiative: the Community Pubs Foundation (CPF). The idea is that rather than helping a struggling pub itself, it will offer support to local communities fighting to save it.

This will come in the form of advice, information and small grants. It is also aiming to "prevent the loss of or inappropriate alterations to a pub of community, architectural or historical importance".

The time is now​

"Urgent action is needed," said CAMRA's chief executive Mike Benner at the launch. "This is why we have set up this association, to help communities save their locals."

Mr Benner said that booming property prices and the conversion of growing numbers of pubs to private houses was the reason so many were closing.

"In the last few years CAMRA has been inundated with cries for help," he added. However, he pointed to research that revealed that 84 per cent of people prefer visiting a country or a local pub, rather than a town centre venue.

Mike Bell, who campaigns for pubs to be given freedom from pubcos under the Freedom for Pubs Association, is confident the CPF will have a positive effect. "I think the Community Pub Foundation is a fantastic idea," he said. "But until the pubcos are out of the way there will not be enough freehouses.

"Some licensees just think any objections to change of use are doomed to automatically fail."

To some the CPF will sound similar to the Pub is the Hub initiative. Set up in 2001, Pub is the Hub is designed to help rural pubs look at how they can extend or adapt their current service in order to sustain their business.

A number of pubs have incorporated post offices and other facilities in a bid to generate more business. And, with Prince Charles as its public face and John Longden as its co-ordinator, the project has had some success.

Raising objections​

So how will the Community Pub Foundation sit alongside Pub is the Hub?

John Longden explained at the launch of CPF: "The role of Pub is the Hub is to help pubs diversify and to help them sustain themselves economically by providing services to the local community.

"CAMRA's role has always been about preservation. The idea of CPF is to help communities to save their pubs, by lodging objections with the local council and advising them of the best way to do this.

"If the objection is successful, that's where Pub is the Hub might come in."

The main difference will be that Pub is the Hub usually works with pubs in rural areas while CPF will deal with urban areas, added John.

At a time when there is a lack of affordable housing across the country and there is pressure on the government to provide more, it will be interesting to see how the CPF can help local communities in saving their local. The financial backing of CAMRA should give it more clout than Pub is the Hub, and more exposure.

And there is no doubting the importance of CPF's task, as Mike Benner explained: "The loss of a valued community pub will have a negative impact on the local economy, community and tourism.

"We ask those who are seeking to demolish a pub or convert a pub for financial gain to pause and spare a thought for the effect this will have on the community."

Let's hope it's not a case of too little, too late.

• For more details visit www.communitypubs.org​ or call 01727 867201.

The loss of the local​

In May CAMRA surveyed local authorities about the loss of pubs in their areas. Of the 102 that responded, these were the key findings:

• 26 pubs a month are being closed indefinitely
• 311 pubs are being closed every year
• Eight out of 10 of these pubs are being permanently lost - through demolition or by being converted into housing.

In addition to these closures, as of May 2005 there were 438 pubs with an uncertain future. Many of these pubs are at serious risk of being demolished or converted into housing.

Who's who at the Community Pubs Foundation​

The foundation will be directed and overseen by a board of trustees. They are:

• Paul Ainsworth​ - former regional director for East Anglia and an active member of CAMRA's Pubs Campaigns Committee for many years. He has been involved with several campaigns to save and revive community pubs.
• Geoff Brandwood​ - author of "Licensed to Sell - the History and Heritage of the Public House". Geoff has worked for many years in the area of listing pubs.
• John Longden​ - co-ordinator of Pub is the Hub, set up in 2001.
• Bob Stutkins​ - a member of CAMRA's National Executive since 2001. He is also director of CAMRA's Pubs Campaigns Committee.

Pictured from left: CAMRA's Mike Benner with Byron Peerson of the Dykes End, Reach, Cambridgeshire, Paul Ainsworth, Gill Scott of community pub the Pineapple in North London, Geoff Brandwood and John Longden.​

Case study: How the Dykes End was saved​

The pub, trading as the Kings, had been a successful community local in Reach, Cambridgeshire, until 1997 when the licensee announced he was closing it down and applying for permission to change it to a house.

An action group, led by the pub's next-door neighbour Bryan Pearson, was quickly formed. Members contacted the local council who agreed that closure would contravene the local plan and refused change of use. The group formed a company and conducted a feasibility study into buying the pub.

Forty-nine villagers became shareholders and raised the £178,000 to buy and restore the pub - and it is now being run as a thriving enterprise.