British Pub Week: Save the Pub group to meet pubs minister

The group will meet on Tuesday with chair Greg Mulholland MP, and will be used to lobby Percy over key issues that are causing pub closures.

Issues to be raised will range from the statutory pubs code, the role of the adjudicator and amending planning loopholes, including how effective the ACV scheme (asset of community value) has been.

Chance to show work

Mulholland said: “​We very much look forward to hosting community pubs minister Andrew Percy at a meeting of the Save the Pub group.

“The meeting will be a chance for him to lay out what steps he is taking to support the sector, including helping to slow down the rate of pub closures.

“The planning system at the moment does not do enough to stop the cynical closure of viable and wanted pubs.

"This is one example of an issue that we hope Andrew will act on.”

Early Day Motion

Mulholland has also tabled an Early Day Motion before the House of Commons to raise support for the British Pub Week, which in previous years has seen the Prime Minister David Cameron raising a glass in his local.

The EDM said: "(This house) believes that pubs are an important part of the history, heritage and culture of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; further believes that pubs are at the heart of communities and that the pub has a unique role in bringing people together, as well as supporting charity, local sports, live music, comedy, theatre, folk culture and traditions; notes the huge contribution of pubs to national and local economies as businesses and employers; further encourages honourable members to visit their local pubs during the week to show their support; and hopes that people up and down the UK will support British Pub Week."