Non-London pubs set for tourism boost
Pubs outside of London are set for an extra boost after the government promised to rebalance the economy away from the capital as part of a new tourism strategy.
The 53-page policy document from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) released today said it plans to identify "super-destinations" to lure visitors away from the South-East.
These "attack brands" include Yorkshire, the Peak District, the Cotswolds and Cornwall.
"We must identify areas of the country with enough top-quality visitor attractions within a reasonably defined area which can provide a similarly varied and compelling visitor experience to rival London," the policy document says. This will be done by creating new independent, tourism bodies, the DCMS said, and improving transport links.
The policy also says brown tourist signs will be allowed to include more detail under a change in the rules. However a DCMS spokeswoman told The Publican this would only apply to signs on main trunk roads. It would be down to local authorities, she said, to follow the government's lead on allowing pubs with brown signs to include more information.
Despite pubs being an obvious attraction to tourists, there is only one passing mention of pubs in the whole document. This is in relation to rating systems for pubs, hotels and restaurants. But the DCMS says it will stop any efforts to force an official rating scheme to be set up and leave it up to VisitEngland.
Meanwhile, the government will also consult on lengthening the tourism season by moving the first Bank Holiday in May to create either a new St George's Day holiday in England or St David's Day in Wales, or a Trafalgar Day bank holiday in the autumn half term.
Other measures announced include "helping to improve staff skills in the sector through extra apprenticeships and courses" and setting up an industry task force to cut red tape on rules, regulations, inspections and forms.
The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) welcomed the policy but urged ministers to help small businesses deliver it. ALMR research showed Britain's pubs and bars created one in eight of all new jobs over the last quarter.
Kate Nicholls, ALMR's strategic affairs director said: "Pubs are undoubtedly the Cinderella of the hospitality and tourism sector. The tourism policy ignores them at its peril, because if given the right support, this research shows they could be the jewel in our crown."
