Pubs 'three times harder to save' than village shops

27-Mar-2014 - Last updated on 01-Apr-2014 at 15:13 GMT

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Peter Couchman: 'The idea that a pub turning into other categories [of use] that are seen as similar is somehow protecting the pub is quite frankly farcical'

It is three times harder to “save” a pub than a village shop, despite the fact that an increasing number of communities are willing and able to purchase and run their own local.

That’s the notice from Peter Couchman, chief executive of the Plunkett Foundation, which helps communities set up co-operative or community-owned shops, pubs and food enterprises.

Speaking at the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group AGM earlier this month, Couchman said: “Last year was historic for us. It was the first time more people came to us to save their pub than came to us to save their village shop.

“We think this year it will be possible for more people to actually save their pub than their village shop, but [at the moment] it’s three times as hard to save your pub as your shop.”

Sustainable

He added that sustainability has been the “main success”, stating that every community that has taken on its own pub through the Plunkett Foundation has continued to keep its doors open.

He also urged communities to apply for their pubs to be listed as assets of community value (ACV) before they are under threat, and said while the procedure is welcome, “listing alone does not save your pub”.

“We are seeing a number of attempts going against the will of Parliament around this, and we think there are some real opportunities for challenging within that,” he said.

“It was the intent of Parliament to [aid the sale of] a pub to someone who wanted to run a pub, but people often want to go against the interests of a community, to actually unlock value from the transaction causing express damage to that service.”

He added: “The idea that a pub turning into other categories [of use] that are seen as similar is somehow protecting the pub is quite frankly farcical.”

ACV risk fund

He also said the ACV risk fund available to local councils to cover any subsequent legal costs has so far been underused and expressed concern about a “loophole” that means a buyer can purchase a development option on a pub before the community has time to list the asset.

Last week a Hertfordshire publican told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser about the frustration created by her pub being ACV-listed, stating that the protective measure is “blighting” her ability to sell, invest in, or change the use of the property.