InBrief

Preston's losing one pub a month

Plungington Taverns licensee Graham Rowson claims that pubs in Preston, Lancashire, are closing at a rate of one per month. He said that some areas of the city had just a quarter of the pubs they had 10 years ago and that the traditional working men's pubs had been hit the hardest. He said: "It's impossible, the costs are just too high, especially the rents."

OFT reveals top five scams

The Office of Fair Trading has identified the top five tricks used to scam people and businesses. They are: Offering an unattainable dream, using official-sounding names, creating fake deadlines, offering bogus money-back guarantees and using fake testimonials.

Village Pub of the Year unveiled

The Crooked Billet in Ryehill, East Yorkshire, has been named village pub of the year by the Campaign for Real Ale. The Marston's pub has built up a reputation for developing the most original food and entertainment schedule in the area. Licensee Peter Ling said: "We are dedicated to keeping great ale and food as our focal point."

Clampdown on kids that drink

Police in Angus, Scotland, have started to confiscate alcohol from children following the announcement last week of the campaign to stop kids drinking in public. The police return children to their parents and inform them that they have been drinking.

Stockport pub lands cellar award

Staff and regulars at the Fletchers Arms, Denton near Stockport, Greater Manchester, are celebrating after the pub scooped brewer Frederic Robinson's annual Best Kept Bar & Cellar Competition. Licensee Vicky Almond dropped only three points in the contest following a comprehensive inspection of cellar standards and beer quality. The Fletchers emerged as top venue out of Robinson's estate of 405 pubs.

Banknote role for Bushmills

Old Bushmill Distillery, owned by Diageo, is to feature on new banknotes in Northern Ireland. The new-look banknotes, set to come into circulation in April, will coincide with the 400th anniversary of Bushmills, which was granted a licence to distil whisky in 1608.