Pubs need investment to survive

Pubs need more investment to boost the industry and encourage people to keep visiting their local.

That was the consensus at think tank The Bow Group's "The Great British Pub Debate - Safeguarding a cherished institution" at Westminster yesterday.

Chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale Mike Benner explained that a lack of investment in pubs, such as a new chef or updating interiors, is leading to closures as many people are put off going to run-down pubs.

He argued that the industry needs to get a strict message across to the public: "If you don't use your local pubs, then you will lose them."

Benner expressed further concerns for change of use because pubs can be coverted into restaurants or cafes without planning permission. He said: "Pubs do provide a unique service so planning permission should be required to change them into restaurants or cafes."

This was described as "one of the most pressing issues" by one attendee to which community pubs minister Bob Neill replied that there are many arguments for both sides and the Government will look at the issue.

Former Morning Advertiser editor Andrew Pring added that pubs have lost their unique selling point because of "technological and consumer developments" such as TVs at home.

He said the Government needs to target the mid-market pubs, which are the ones that need saving. "They are fighting an unfair battle against supermarkets, the Government and pubcos and the Coalition needs to see this if pubs are survive," he said.

Benner also called for a "genuine ban" on below cost sales in supermarkets and decribed pubs as "regulated drinking" areas as opposed to drinking at home.