Rural pubs question value of hours reform

Pubs in rural England could turn their backs on extended opening hours and revert to 11pm closing during the week due to a lack of late-night trade.

It appears the predicted explosion in late-night drinking and the 24-hour cafe culture the Government is keen to create may never take hold in England's towns and villages.

Many rural publicans are finding midweek drinkers still go home at traditional closing times despite extended hours.

Tommie Ryan, Punch lessee of the Crown Inn, Ilminster in Somerset, told the MA he expected large numbers of village and small town pubs to revert to their old hours within months, as the trade was not covering increased staff costs.

"People's drinking habits have not changed just because of the new hours and I don't think they will for some time," said Ryan.

"By February or March I think many people will revert to their old hours. At the weekends the extra hours are superb, but during the week they are pointless. It's alright if you are a JD Wetherspoon's in the middle of a town, but for many country and market-town pubs there is no difference. I stay open until midnight every night but during the week people are still looking at their watch at 11pm and leaving about 20 minutes past - everyone's got work to go to."

Ryan's views were backed up by Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Vic-tuallers Associations (FLVA).

He said: "We are finding a number of licensees have got extended hours during the week but just aren't using them. The extra hours will be useful on public holidays but my advice is make your hours suit your business.

"The most important thing

is not to be sitting in the pub

at midnight with one custo-

mer when you could be asleep in bed!"