Costcutter sizes up 40 closed pubs

Costcutter is the latest supermarket to declare an interest in converting closed pubs.

Executive chairman Colin Graves told MA's sister title Convenience Store​ the group recognised the potential of former pub sites and had made enquiries regarding numerous sites over the past two months.

"It's still early days yet but we're looking at between 30 and 40 former pub sites around the UK," he said.

Last month it was revealed that Tesco had submitted planning applications to convert a number of closed pubs into Tesco Express stores. It recently completed on the purchase of the Bedford Lounge in Bedford.

As former pub sites are already licensed to serve food and alcohol, a change of use application is not required. This offers retailers the chance to set up a store, or to combine a store with a café or restaurant.

Tony Evans, head of retail at property specialist Christie & Co, said: "We have always seen a healthy interest from retailers regarding pubs designated for alternative use, but the current increase in pub closures has led to further enquiries and opportunities across the country.

"The locations of these closed pubs make them perfect for convenience store operators, who will have a captive local customer base on their doorstep from day one.

"The ease in which change of use can be gained without planning consent also increases the attractiveness of these former pubs."

Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland also tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) expressing concern over Tesco targeting closed pubs.

The EDM said: "This house believes that a public house should not be closed unless it has been offered to other public house operators and the community; further believes that there should be a statutory right of consultation over any public house closure and that there should be a mandatory viability test to determine whether a public house is, or could be viable; and calls on the Government to examine a range of measures to help public houses including enshrining them and their importance to their local communities in planning law".