Half of city pubs are at risk of closure, says new study (From Hampshire Chronicle)
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Survey says half of Southampton pubs face the risk of closing down in a year
10:29am Monday 22nd October 2012 in Hampshire Business
By Luke Tugby, Senior reporter
Half of city pubs are at risk of closure, says new study
THEY used to be at the heart of every community across Southampton.
But dozens of city pubs have been forced to call last orders for the final time blaming reduced trade and competition from supermarkets.
Now new research has shown that half of Southampton’s remaining watering holes are at risk of closure by the end of next year.
The study, by insolvency trade body R3, revealed that 49 per cent of pubs across the city have been defined as being “at risk of failure” during the next 12 months.
It comes after several Southampton pubs including the Bulls Eye in Butts Road, Sholing, the Winning Post in Peartree Avenue, and The Woodman in Coxford Road, closed recently to be converted into convenience stores.
A total of ten pubs were closed in south Hampshire last year alone, according to figures from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
But landlords from across the city hit back at the study last night.
Stewart Cross, landlord at the Platform Tavern, which opened its own microbrewery in December last year, said: “Every pub has struggled lately with the smoking ban, the added duty on beer and supermarkets offering cheap deals – it’s hammering pubs.
“But you have to do something different to stay ahead of the field and keep customers coming in. You can’t just stand there and struggle otherwise you will end up closing.
“The microbrewery has definitely helped us. It’s not hugely profitable but it’s unique.”
Dawn Gentry, landlady at the Junction Inn, in St Denys, which reopened last month after being devastated by a fire, said that pubs shouldn’t just be a place for people to drink.
She added: “It’s not all about alcohol and it can’t just be about alcohol. All sorts of people come in here for different reasons – some need to borrow a stamp or need something photocopied, other people just want a chat.
“There’s definitely still a place for pubs. They are still a vital part of communities like ours.
But you only get out what you put in and we work like dogs here. If you don’t work hard, you’re not going to succeed.”
Nick Keitley, chairman of R3’s southern committee said: “The number of drinking establishments at risk in Southampton is a worry, particularly considering the recent boosts they would have seen thanks to the PSP Southampton Boat Show and Freshers’ Week.
“The recession has gone on far longer than could have been predicted and it is getting harder for people to find the money to spend on discretionary items.
“For many, going to the pub after work is being replaced by buying cheaper alcohol in the supermarkets, and the strain on pubs and bars is really showing.”
The study found that four out of ten pubs and bars in the south east are at risk of failure in the next 12 months.
Comments(35)
one in a million
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11:21am Mon 22 Oct 12
Shoong
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11:25am Mon 22 Oct 12
Over the Edge
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11:38am Mon 22 Oct 12
The traditional British pub days are coming to an end.
FoysCornerBoy
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11:40am Mon 22 Oct 12
I think we should look again at licensing legislation as well as the tax/ duty regime in order to encourage and promote the basic British boozer.
For instance how about zero-rated VAT on beer that is brewed using local ingredients or some relief from business rates where the local and resident (sic) publican can clearly demonstrate to the authorities their valuable contribution to the community?
Nicole23
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11:52am Mon 22 Oct 12
MGRA
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12:02pm Mon 22 Oct 12
sotonboy84
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12:20pm Mon 22 Oct 12
michaelwhite
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12:26pm Mon 22 Oct 12
StMarysSaint
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12:32pm Mon 22 Oct 12
becksbeare
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12:39pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Nicole23 wrote:Nice thought, but it's a long way to go for an evening out
£1 a pint in Poland
George4th
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1:11pm Mon 22 Oct 12
>
Supermarkets certainly don't help!
>
Smoking Ban hasn't helped either!
>
But, for me, the death knell of the local pub was when the Labour government extended the drinking hours and also encouraged every corner shop in the land to apply for an alcohol licence! You can buy alcohol at your local convenience store so why would you pay Pub prices?! (You just have to be careful that they aren't selling bootleg booze!!)
Plum Pudding
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1:16pm Mon 22 Oct 12
On the inside
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1:27pm Mon 22 Oct 12
In 1975 a pint was, at best, 50p. Now a pint is, (again at best), about £3.00. That means it takes just under half an hour to earn the price of a pint even on minimum wage (£6.19ph). Most people are on more than the minimum wage. If you earnt £1ph in 1975 you were doing well.
In real inflation terms a pint should now be about £4.20.
Again, whatever it is, it is NOT the price.
Georgem
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1:33pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Nicole23 wrote:Average wage in Poland?
£1 a pint in Poland
michaelwhite
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1:55pm Mon 22 Oct 12
On the inside wrote:I completely agree. As I mentioned earlier, I regularly pay more for a pint here in Bangkok than back home, but not many bars/pubs are struggling. And no, I'm not referring to entertainment establishments, just ordinary pubs. I don't think price is the issue.
Whatever the reason for the decline in pub usage is it is NOT the price of a pint.
In 1975 a pint was, at best, 50p. Now a pint is, (again at best), about £3.00. That means it takes just under half an hour to earn the price of a pint even on minimum wage (£6.19ph). Most people are on more than the minimum wage. If you earnt £1ph in 1975 you were doing well.
In real inflation terms a pint should now be about £4.20.
Again, whatever it is, it is NOT the price.
StMarysSaint
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2:04pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Well 25% of respondents think it is the price, and that is a huge hit for Pubs to take.
I'd be interested to know how many are voting, because the larger the sample, the more accurate the result in the population as a whole, which if you actually know anything about statistics, you will be aware of.
marma495
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2:43pm Mon 22 Oct 12
My answer would have been,
I used to go to go regularly to the pub before the ridiculous smoking ban came in.
Why on earth have a poll if the main reason for the decline in the pub trade is completely ignored?
Smoke and mirrors
peter.maidment
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3:11pm Mon 22 Oct 12
chas
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3:34pm Mon 22 Oct 12
George4th
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3:35pm Mon 22 Oct 12
sass
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3:42pm Mon 22 Oct 12
CharlesIIX
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3:56pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Yes it is expensive now to go to the pub Why, because in 2007 the smoking ban effectively barred smokers - so they stopped going or went less as did many of their non-smoking friends. The convivial pub atmosphere was lost in the process, alienating even more of the remaining customers. Costs had to rise to compensate for the loss of custom which in turn lost more custom.
A re-invigorated crypto-temperance movement has taken full advantage by de-normalising drinkers as alcoholics, binge drinkers, health risks etc and demanding more and more increases in tax/revenue. They are winning!
The pub trade is caught in a downward spiral and this has happened in just about every country where smoking bans are forced upon the people. Thousands of good pubs have been forced to closed since, along with tens of thousands of jobs lost.
I would have thought there would be a base line of closures where the remaining customers could go for the occasional pint and meal, but this baseline appears to be much lower than I thought. A once popular pastime will soon only be available to the well-off - and they were never really interested before.
I miss the pub but that's 'progress' as the 'progressives' say!
On the inside
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4:50pm Mon 22 Oct 12
George4th wrote:You're an idiot.
I suspect that with equality working the way it does in the modern world, it probably keeps a lots of men at home these days!
freefinker
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5:03pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Shoong wrote:.. not my experience.
What's more annoying is that further up north you go the cheaper a pint gets!
It's more expensive in Winchester than Southampton.
.. but then I don't often venture north of the Chillworth roundabout - far too grim.
George4th
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6:04pm Mon 22 Oct 12
On the inside wrote:Thank you for the compliment though one wonders why you would reply to an idiot...............
George4th wrote:You're an idiot.
I suspect that with equality working the way it does in the modern world, it probably keeps a lots of men at home these days!
.......
sass
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9:09pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Bowmore
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9:30pm Mon 22 Oct 12
I think it's more to do with the general ambiance in most pubs. It's rare to find a pub where you can have a quite drink read the paper or sit at the bar and discuss what's wrong with the world on how it might be put right.
A really good landlord can make a huge difference in attracting a regular group of customers.
Huffter
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10:18pm Mon 22 Oct 12
marma495 wrote:Certainly doesn't cover all the options - I'm a recovering alcoholic and don't go to pubs at all now... but I've done my share in the past!
The poll is irrelevant as it does,nt cover all the options. My answer would have been, I used to go to go regularly to the pub before the ridiculous smoking ban came in. Why on earth have a poll if the main reason for the decline in the pub trade is completely ignored? Smoke and mirrors
Here, There
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11:25pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Bowmore wrote:The answer is in your statement "last couple of years I have gone infrequently" any Pub would need a huge volume of infrequent visitors to survive.."you cant get a really good pint of real ale" unfortunately real ale has a limited sale by date so commercially you would refer to sale to demand substantiated by "Real Ales" being sold in bottle form...you then go on to quote "ambiance" you want a busy quiet pub...an oxymoron no ?...and somwhere where your and a limited few opinions can be expressed.....conver
I used to go to the pub a couple of nights a week. However for the last couple of years I have gone very infrequently. I'm not sure exactly why. It's not the cost and I don't drink very much at home, besides you can't get a really good pint of real ale at home.
I think it's more to do with the general ambiance in most pubs. It's rare to find a pub where you can have a quite drink read the paper or sit at the bar and discuss what's wrong with the world on how it might be put right.
A really good landlord can make a huge difference in attracting a regular group of customers.
sely a really good customer base can make a huge difference to a Pub
boxing_nut
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8:32am Tue 23 Oct 12
Shoong
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10:27am Tue 23 Oct 12
freefinker wrote:Living in Winchester (but feel equally at home in Southampton), last year I was in Newcastle for a stag party, £2.50 a pint!
Shoong wrote:.. not my experience.
What's more annoying is that further up north you go the cheaper a pint gets!
It's more expensive in Winchester than Southampton.
.. but then I don't often venture north of the Chillworth roundabout - far too grim.
kingnotail
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11:00am Tue 23 Oct 12
Shoong wrote:The pubs are much better too. You could probably count the number of decent pubs in Southampton on one hand!
What's more annoying is that further up north you go the cheaper a pint gets!
kingnotail
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11:01am Tue 23 Oct 12
My boy
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5:51pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Might SS says...
11:18am Mon 22 Oct 12