Pub Manifesto to halt closures
A total of 2,638 pubs will close next year if the Government does not take action and follow a four point rescue plan — that is the stark warning from the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR).
In 2007 over 2,500 pubs closed but 1,091 new pubs opened, however the ALMR predicts 2,638 pubs will close in 2008 with just 622 new openings — leaving a shortfall of 2,016.
The ALMR's Pub Manifesto urges the Government to:
• Cancel the alcohol duty escalator.
• Cut red tape.
• Act on below-cost supermarket sales.
• Reintroduce empty property relief and extend the stamp duty holiday to pubs.
"The pub market embodies everything you could hope a successful business to be — it is competitive, innovative and delivers a great experience to British public in pubs up and down the country," said ALMR chief executive Nick Bish. "But its very future is now being threatened.
"What we have now is a perfect storm. On one side the industry is being hit by the credit crunch, just as everyone else is. There is little we can expect or do in this area. But on the other side it is being hit by the culmination of 11 years of unwanted and unwarranted attention from its own Government.
"Our figures provide the clearest evidence yet that the market is being restrained by a sea of red tape, whilst being hit with alcohol duty rises and pestered by unnecessary Government interference.
"Pubs are part of our way of life; a uniquely British institution. They make a hugely positive social and economic contribution to the nation. More needs to be done to remove the barriers on growth imposed on the sector by Whitehall. Our industry is willing but not able to grow.
"It's time the Government sits up and listens to licensees. If adopted, our Pub Manifesto proposals would create an environment where pub and bar entrepreneurs can really prosper."
