The so-called Carlisle Experiment, which saw the creation of state-run pubs, ran for almost 50 years before the Conservative government of Ted Heath privatised the initiative, flogging pubs off in batches to the national brewers in the early 1970s.
I mean to be fair, they sounded like miserable operations, as befitting any Government-sanctioned fun palace - the managers were de-incentivised to sell beer, to reduce drunkenness, and the buying of rounds was forbidden.
The initiative was launched during the first World War, with the Government buying up and running pubs near munitions factories. The aim was to have greater control over alcohol consumption among key factory workers.
Recognising the important role that pubs played in society, the Government of the time took the view it was better to be inside the tent, than out.
They also sought to improve the pub offer, creating revolutionary spaces designed to promote sociability and break down class barriers.
Total change
What a change from present Government policy, which seems determined to squeeze the sector in the form of taxation to the point of termination.
The news that the Treasury is now rethinking the implications of the Budget when it comes to the car-crash situation that is business rates is welcome news but the lack of communication and transparency around the issue is already raising alarm bells and few are optimistic.
That combined with recent nonsense from the business secretary Peter Kyle who claimed ministers were not in possession of all the facts and “didn’t have access” to information about the planned revaluation that came out the same day as the Budget is laughable and utterly dishonest.
The fact the VOA has now said it did inform the Treasury ahead of the Budget shows what a catastrophic shambles this Government has been, lurching from crisis to crisis with no pathetic excuse left unturned to justify what is either malice intent or utter incompetence.
We’ve been promised a U-turn on rates, but with no follow up detail, and an ominous silence over the last week, many in the sector are fearing the worst, predicting a dogs-dinner of a solution that will appease no-one and lead to further anger and dismay.
While the Government dithers over this, operators across the industry continue to face a grim future filled with worry and anxiety, and many may not be able to hold on.
I would urge the Government to wake up, take a look to the past, when pubs were considered valuable institutions, and start actually talking to people to understand the best way they can reverse the damage two successive Budgets have done to a sector that otherwise could be thriving.