Circuit pub loses trade to back-street boozers

New opening hours are encouraging people to stay in back-street pubs and avoid traditional nightspots.

That is the message from the licensee of a circuit pub in Morecambe, who feels forced to pack up after seeing sales fall by around 50% due to competition from community pubs that open later under the new licensing regime.

The host's wife, Janet, is now poised to take over a nearby community pub, vowing: "If I can't beat the back-street pubs, I'll join them".

Punch lessee Thomas Baker has seen monthly turnover fall from around £8,000 to £3,500 at the Royal Hotel in the promenade since the Licensing Act went live last November.

The pub secured a 3am licence but Janet said trade had suffered because people were staying at two back-street pubs nearby, which can sell alcohol until 4am.

"If they are not coming out of the back street, we can't serve them," said Janet.

"The bottom has fallen out of town-centre pubs because the back-street boozers can now open later. People don't go on pub crawls to the sea front like they used to."

She said that attempts to open later were bound to fail because police said they would object to any attempt to vary the licence.

Janet said they could not afford the £794 weekly rent charged by Punch and her husband had been buying out of tie to keep costs down.

As a result, the pubco has issued a possession order against the licensee, who took on a 15-year lease two years ago. He is due to appear in court on 15 June.

Janet recently bought the freehold on community pub Jinty's on Edward Street, which is set to open on 1 June. The new venue has a 1am licence and is geared to slightly older customers.

l Is your circuit pub losing trade to community inns that are staying open later? Call John Harrington on 01293 610481.