Battle to save local pubs gains momentum

The Save Our Local Pubs campaign has hit a nerve with long-serving licensees who have swamped the MA offices with horror stories of rising costs and bureaucratic bumbling that has left them on the verge of quitting.

The campaign was launched to raise national awareness of the plight of community pubs and lobby Government for a cut in red tape.

It is wonderful news. One thing we need to do is find a way of measuring just how much pubs contribute to the community.​ Robert Humphreys, APPBG.

New Legislation​Licensees also want a one-stop advice centre providing support on new legislation.

One host, Alan Vaughan, said he was so sick of his plans for staff accommodation being knocked back by Horsham District Council he had "decided to leave the industry and the UK for good" after 20 years at the Countryman Inn in Shipley, West Sussex.

The pub's rural location and high property prices mean Vaughan finds it difficult to attract staff.

He claims the council has rejected plans because his pub was named Les Routiers Dining Pub of the Year 2005 without the accommodation.

"I have had to work non-stop seven days and 100 hours a week for the last four years. ​

We need to provide pubs with support. It is not acceptable to deprive a community of its heart for houses.​ John Longden, Pub is the Hub.

"They (Horsham council) have absolutely no interest in the personal workload needed to keep the business running. I was forced into a position I never envisaged," he said.

Alan Hopkins has been at the Seahorse in Porthcawl, Mid-Glamorgan, for 18 years but is handing his notice in, citing red tape and rising costs.

He added: "One thing that rips the heart out of community pubs is the rates we have to pay," he said. ​

"I have to pay £461 a month for the pub and then £92 a month for the accommodation above.

The campaign looks great. An alliance between licensees, consumers and trade bodies will send a strong message to Government​ Jonathan Mail, Camra.

"Surely paying one would be more sensible. It is no fun living upstairs with all the noise anyway. I just can't carry on as a small business."

Supermarkets​Hopkins believes supermarkets are also helping to finally kill off the community pubs.

"Before I came into the trade I was a milkman with Unigate dairies but it doesn't exist anymore because milk is cheaper in the supermarkets.​

"People just won't pay the price for the service. Exactly the same thing is happening to pubs."

Stu Staples, of the Dorallt Inn in Cwmbran, Gwent, added: "What we really need is a stronger voice in Government."​

We want to hear what we can do to help you. We want to know:

The role you play in your communityThe challenges you faceYour ideas on how to solve the problems

Get in touch with Ewan Turney on 01293 610388, or email us by clicking this link​

Your Comments​Sonia Hood​ via email 31/05/2006"I am 48 yrs old and have been in the trade for 38 yrs i still love the way of life and the challenges of running a pub however at least one day a week i consder leaving. there is so much paperwork that i have had to employ my daughter 2 days a week to help. everything is so expensive and time consuming these days i can only afford the minimum staff and minimum wage therefore you dont get people interested in the trade just earning a bit of money therefore your business suffers and you cannot afford to be seen out front. every thing you do to try to improve your trade involves endless paperwork and increased costs. i have never poisoned any one or injured any one or been taken to court for flouting the laws etc in the thirty eight years i have been in the trade. since the new licencing laws i feel iam treeted as sone one who has not got a clue about the industry and have to be told what to do and account for every action that i take. there is very little pleasure in running a pub these days. i am clining on to the fact that i have a community pub and i can still enjoy some of the old ways. rising costs and rising paper work are making it VERY HARD for me to make a living (i run the business on my own) i dont know how much longer i can fight to stay in an industry i LOVE.

Pat Cardus​ via email 31/05/2006"Have just read your email on supporting our pubs. My husband and I are having a rent review and have been informed that the rent is going up £12,000 per year (£40,000 - £52,000).

With the no smoking bill coming in next year, we feel that we will never get on top of things!!! We have been here for nearly 3 years and have turned our pub into a good local community pub -setting up darts, pool teams. Lots of fundraising and setting up pubwatch, making this a safe place to come to.

We havent seen our OSM since September but have spoken to him on the phone a couple of times. We have been promised a re-paint of the outside of the building for the past one and half years - nothing done but we have sone some painting and refurbishing inside. What do we pay our rent for??

We are now uncertain of our future and dont know where we are going to be next year.