Calling time on traditional pubs (From Worcester News)

Calling time on traditional pubs

9:57am Wednesday 5th March 2008 in News By David Paine, @davidpaineWN #worcsnews

HALF of Worcester's traditional pubs must close if landlords are to make a decent living in the city, accoring to the man who represents them.

Worcestershire Licensed Victuallers Association chairman Mike Stevens said landlords who rely solely on the sale of alcohol are running up massive debts trying to keep failing pubs open.

He also asked for groups such as Camra (the Campaign For Real Ale) to stop "swimming against the tide" because he thought it is just encouraging more people to spend what little money they have on businesses that cannot be saved.

David Pickford, landlord of the Goodrest Tavern, Barker Street, Rainbow Hill, Worcester, which only serves drink, said: "I'm gobsmacked he is saying things like that. It's hard enough to keep pubs open without someone saying they should close.

"I've been here five years now and when I took over the pub it wasn't doing that good but we have turned it around and we do a decent take every week now."

There are currently 110 pubs and clubs in Worcester with licences to sell alcohol. Mr Stevens said: "There are just too many traditional pubs in Worcester. There are two on the same street in some places.

"Half of them need to close so the half that is left might be able to make a better living."

His words come a fortnight after Worcester's Camra branch ran community pubs week - an initiative aimed at encouraging drinkers to spend more money at their local in a bid to save them.

Spokesman Bill Ottaway said: "I don't think we would ever encourage anybody to take on a failing business. Anyone thinking of taking over a pub must have a look through the books. We don't say it's going to be fantastic but we do our best to keep it open and give that opportunity."

We previously reported in your Worcester News how the Salmon's Leap and Alma pub in Diglis have been sold to the King's School Worcester.

While the Salmon's Leap is set to be turned into a sports hall, Camra is fighting planning applications to demolish the Alma and replace it with a pre-school. Mr Stevens, who has been involved with the WLVA for 22 years, said the only reason a lot of traditional drinking pubs stay open is because they are owned by big brewing companies which take on temporary landlords who spend thousands of pounds on bonds, rent, and running costs only to leave after just a few months in charge.

"People with the best intentions in the world try to save them but more people go in and go bankrupt." Mr Stevens said the introduction of the smoking ban combined with economic instability and availability of cheap alcohol has led to a down-turn in drinkers at pubs over the last year.

• COMMENT: What's to happen to our pubs?