Pubs gear up to be polling stations

Pubs across the UK will be playing a major role during the voting process next week - with a host of outlets being used as polling stations for the first time.

Attempts to get people out to vote have been stepped up and pubs are set to benefit from their status as centres of the community.

In Cumbria some voters will flock to their locals on Thursday (May 6) to have their say.

At the Bush Inn, in Tallentire, licensee Ray Seavers is looking forward to opening his doors to the local community.

"We are a very small village and our pub is now the focal point of the community," he said. "The polling station used to in a school, but that's closed now and has been converted into a house."

But Ray said it was "ironic" that pubs were being used to help the political process, when the current government had "destroyed" the industry.

Pubs in Staffordshire will also be setting up as polling stations for locals. Richard Baker, licensee at the Vine Inn, in Stone, will have a portacabin in his car park operating as a polling booth.

"It should be a good turnout and we're hoping people might pop in for a drink afterwards," he said.

However, on the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales, the idea of going to a pub to vote has not gone down well with some.

Rev Dr David Owen, the Welsh Christian Party candidate for Anglesey, said having the polling station in the Holland Hotel would put some religious voters off.

"To have people voting in a pub is ridiculous and I have no doubt this will stop spiritual people from voting as they will not enter a public house," he told the Daily Post​.

"Many spiritual people have never entered a pub in their whole lives."