Blanket policies hammering community pubs

The government must stop using blanket policies that punish all pubs and take urgent action to reward those that play a vital role in their community, an influential new report recommends.

The report, entitled Pubs and Places: the social value of community pubs​, attacks the government for adopting a one-size-fits-all approach to pubs through regulation and tax and warns community pubs could disappear altogether.

It makes a series of recommendations to help struggling outlets, including giving 50 per cent rate relief to pubs that are centres of their community allowing some to apply for third sector grants.

It also says that planning law should be changed to offer better protection for community pubs.

The report, published by the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr), also calls for the relationship between the large pubcos and their tenants to be "reformed" and a mandatory code of conduct introduced to make sure rents are worked out in a "transparent" way.

Mike Benner, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), which was involved with the report, said: "The government needs to recognise the benefit well-run community pubs bring to society and reward those that deliver genuine community benefit."

The report also recommends a freeze in beer duty, a minimum price on alcohol and giving existing pubco tenants the first option of buying their pub.

Alcohol Concern said it also supported the ippr's and CAMRA's work.

Chief executive Don Shenker said: "Community pubs perform a valuable social function and are frequently the cornerstone of rural life, providing safe and friendly drinking environments. Such pubs are often excellent examples of responsible drinks retailing."

In terms of pub closures, the report finds that Scotland, the North West and West Midlands have been hit hardest.