Pubs fall victim to the recession

[super jumbe]

LAST orders has been called at The 12 Bells when it was repossessed this week, becoming the latest pub in Cirencester to fall victim to the recession.
It is the sixth pub to have closed in the town in little over two years following in the footsteps of The Woodbine, The White Lion, The Queens Head and Barcode.
The 12 Bells on Lewis Lane, which was one of the oldest pubs in Cirencester, was repossessed by estate agents Sidney Phillips, based in Hereford.
Mark Lindesay, who recently took over The Golden Cross on Black Jack Street, said: "When I came to Cirencester in September the Twelve Bells was one of the first pubs that I was told about.
"It had a reputation and was always talked about in the fondest regard. I hope that the pub will reopen as it is a part of the town***8217;s history."

[super jumbe]

British boozers are closing at a rate of 47% per WEEK - with tax rises and the smoking ban to blame.
The price of a pint in a pub is way over the top, British consumers are tightening their belts and cutting back on everything from shoe shopping to trips to the pub, It is estimated that five pubs are closing every day across the country.
Few years ago I used to go to pub on Sunday afternoon with lads and few pints and Sunday lunch I can not forget, the old British tradition is coming to a close.
Who should we blame?

[SOB60]

It's dearer to fill up on beer than it is to fill up your fuel tank per litre, the British Boozer is on a downward slope now, probably only those who are sponsored by either Restaurant Companies or Accommodation Outlets will survive the longest in the future.

[Cronus]

It would be interesting to see in these statistics what percentage of the pubs that are closing are leasehold or freehold.
Leasehold HAVE to buy their products from the brewery they are tied to but freehold can buy from anyone they like.

Its been quoted that leasehold pubs are paying 30-40% more and have limited beer choices. Add tax rises to that and no-one can compete.

The smoking ban was probably the start of a slippery slope for a lot of pubs though. The cheap supermarket deals increased this even further and a lot of people chose to turn their backs on the pub industry.

Its crazy though that when I walk past my ex-local its more like a creche now. How ludicrous is it that all the kids are inside and the adults outside!

[bonus2010]

It's rather sad that so many pubs are closing. Many of the pubs situated around the housing schemes in my area have closed... Although the pubs in the town centres are still OK.

Just think that the no smoking policy and rising costs of a pint through tax have influenced this.

Sad.. because a pub is a good social opportunity for locals.

Just another recreational activity that the government have fcuked for ordinary folks!

[the rock]

its happing all over Ireland due to the the down turn in the economy and we irsih love our drink