MPs and Peers quiz trade on future of community pubs
A cross-party group of MPs and Peers has begun it's inquiry into the issues affecting Britain's community pubs.
The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group's community pubs inquiry - co-ordinated by Robert Humphreys - met for the first time today after inviting submissions from everyone in the trade.
As expected, the issues raised included the smoke ban and the Designated Premises Supervisor confusion but also tied house beer prices and Progressive Beer Duty.
Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association chief executive Tony Payne started the proceedings - highlighting the importance of the role of community pubs: "They can act as community centres, post offices, libraries. They have to find new ways to remain viable," he said.
But Dr Rudi Vis, who is a Labour MP for Finchley, warned that with amenities like a post office there comes more red tape.
Payne showed the panel copies of guidance he sends out to FLVA members and the acres of paperwork licensees face.
Yvonne Cleminson from Greene King outlet the Cherry Tree in Farnham, Surrey and Janet Dooner from Punch outlet the Railway Tavern in Stratford, East London both spoke about the roles they play in their community.
"I've been in the trade for 40 years," said Dooner. "I run the local Pubwatch, I am the Business representative for Newham Local Business Partnership, I am a member of the community forum and the chamber of commerce. I have darts and football teams, bikers meetings, carers association meetings, war veteran meetings and rail enthusiast meetings. I don't charge the carers association or the war veterans and they don't have any money. I don't know where else they'd meet if it wasn't for my pub."
Cleminson represents 100 Greene King pubs as part of the tenant development group and helps train new tenants.
She said the biggest problems faced today were: -business rates-Sky charges-tied beer prices when there is so much competition from big chain pubs-red tape-confusion around regulations to do with food and licensing.
Cleminson and Dooner said they feared similar issues with the smoking ban unless clear guidance is set out well in advance.
Dooner also took the opportunity to add that she felt Sky fees should be calculated by sq foot or capacity rather than rateable value.
The pair also felt small pubs should be offered a grant for smoking shelters.
Mike Benner and Jonanthan Mail from Camra took the floor to talk about introducing a new guest beer law, a reduction in duty on draught beer and the right for long-term tenants to buy their pubs.
Benner said: "Off-trade prices have hit pubs hard and global brewers with established brands are at fault. They see a chance to build market shares with a "stack 'em high and sell 'em cheap" mentality."
MPs and peers argued that a reduction in duty may encourage excessive drinking but Benner argued that it is only a small minority of people that cause problems and the majority responsible drinkers are forced to pay.
All parties felt that the Department of Culture Media and Sport should offer some kind of one-stop helpline for licensees.
