The agent

Andrew Coulter, Redwoods Dowling Kerr

The image of the Great British Pub is changing. Lifestyles, the economy, trends, the smoking ban and continuing Government bills and taxes have all contributed to a downturn in the market and support from the general public is waning.

The cautious economy has meant that fewer people have the spare funds to socialise as much, and many are choosing to purchase cheap alcohol from the large supermarket chains and then socialise with friends and family at home; good for the pocket but not so good for the pub industry.

Beer sales are down and costs are up; a reported 50 pubs per month are closing, with tax hikes

and growing legislation often blamed, making it impossible to continue.

Private vendors, small chains and large pub companies are struggling and many have fallen foul, slipping into administration or just turning their backs on the industry and

selling up.

This increasingly unstable environment has led to an uncertainty of what may be to come among those remaining in the industry, while those looking to enter are more reticent. However, there is good news to be had — there will always be a strong demand for good quality establishments that offer something special, something different. Freehold pubs with accommodation, those maintained to a high standard, providing fine food and a sumptuous environment, will always

be popular.

Pubs offering outdoor, year-round facilities will benefit, along with those perhaps with other income streams, such as a caravan park or camping, village shop, venue for weddings etc.

Reputation is everything; establishing a name for

a business is paramount

to surviving the competition.

Providing social activities to suit the requirements

of the local community — whether that be live music, a pudding club, a venue

for the WI or local salsa sessions, quiz nights and

a cinema club — would be beneficial in developing a place in the market and in the minds of the locals.

It is the pubs that are mostly wet-led, with no other income than the declining beer trade, and

a dwindling customer base, that have suffered and

will continue to do so.

One thing's for certain, though, the pub, in one form or another, will

always be a part of the British culture and, so long as it can adapt and diversify and provide a quality service, it will weather the storm and its popularity will begin to rise once more."