JN2053 - Article

HARD TIMES AHEAD FOR PRESTON’S PUBS

Pubs across Preston have been closing at the rate of more than one a month since the turn of the New Year.

Former profit making pub’s have called “last orders” unable to overcome new challenges within the Pub industry, with the traditional working men’s clubs bearing the brunt of these closures

Popular traditional pubs such as The Belle Vue on New Cross Lane and The Cricketers on South Meadow Lane have closed for business with the smoking ban, higher rents and competition from chain outlets in Preston’s City centre being blamed for their demise.

The Plungington area alone has had three pub closures since July last year which is surprising considering its dense population of students. The Last Order’s, The General Havelock and The Tanners arms have all been closed for business at some point during 2008.


sssssssssssssssssssssThe Royal Oak closed for business

Chain pubs such as Weatherspoons and Scream have attracted the large student population by offering cheap beer and familiarity. This means students often shun more local establishments.

This is something which doesn’t surprise James Edge bar manager at popular Preston Nightspot Manyanas He said:

“Students are renowned for having little money and will always flock to the place where beer is the cheapest; fortunately we can offer this due to our location, size, and high profit margin.”

Mike Benner a spokesman for the Campaign for real ale website blamed government tax increases as the reason for the current climate, he said:

“We need to see a tax cut on beer otherwise the amount of pub closures throughout the country will spiral out of control, at the current moment the price of beer in pubs is rising faster than inflation.”

One current land lord believes the situation has become so bad that soon there will be no place for the traditional pubs in Britain’s cities. Ronnie Fitzpatrick Chairman of the local licensed victuallers association said:

“The breweries that own the pubs are putting up rents so high that we must put prices up to make ends meet, this combined with cheap super market beer results in people staying at home. At the moment it is very difficult to make good money in this industry.”

The closures have also had a big impact on the economy in Preston with hundreds of people set to loose their jobs if the situation continues.


sssssssssssssssssssPreston pub The Sun Hotel empty at luchtime

Although the problem was not expected to spread to the town centre the recent closure The Wall Street bar located in the heart of the city centre on Fishergate, was described by Nicholas Watson Joint Chief Executive for the Preston Chamber of Trade as: “a cause for concern,” in a recent press conference.

However it is the traditional pubs that have for so many years been at the heart of many communities within Preston that are most at risk. Kimberly Whittle 23, from Aqueduct Street, Preston said:

“It’s difficult to see so many of the pub’s around here closing I have very fond memories of The Royal Oak in particular.”

JN2053 - Feature

IS CHANGE NEEDED TO SURVIVE?

With traditional pubs closing down at a fast rate, how can these former focal points of the community survive the current climate?

Preston’s rich heritage as a town with lots of pubs is under threat. The town once boasted 365 pubs, each one crucial to the community in which it was placed.

With that number now halved and the small traditional pubs making way for big chain establishments, buckling under the weight of higher rent, taxes and smaller alcohol prices in the supermarkets, what is needed to survive in these testing times?

Madaleine Walsley Landlady at The Awkwirghts Pub on Plungington road has been in the industry for 20 years and isn’t worried about the current state of affairs.

"We have tried to keep a strong base of regulars, and we are of the belief that if we treat them well they will continue to come back. For many years now we have provided a selection of guest beers, quiz nights, as well as most importantly a good atmosphere. However we have added a facility for smokers in the form of an outside smoking terrace."

dddddddddddddddddLand Lady Madaleine Walsley pouring a pint

Mrs Walsley did however acknowledge that they are still not completely safe, sighting the smoking ban as a possible reason for the significant increase in pub closures in the Plungington area.

"I feel sorry for the Landlords of the Royal Oak and General Havelock which have recently closed but when profit margins are so tight it’s easy to get pushed over the edge."

Although Mrs Walsley continues to remain optimistic about the future of her pub, other pubs such as The Sun Hotel on Friargate have taken measures to make sure it doesn’t become another number on the list. Barmaid Camel Hickley said:

"We are trying different things such as music nights, as well as more drinks offers to try and bring in the students. However it is important that we continue to maintain a good atmosphere and stick to our roots as a pub that specialises in Celtic sports."

However is this enough to keep afloat? Saun Guest barman at the Scream chain pub Roper Hall which is next to The Sun Hotel doesn’t see any change to the status quo:

hhhhh The Sun Hotel business taken away by the arrival of the Scream chain

"I can only see the current situation getting worse; many of these traditional pubs don’t have the space we have to maximise profits. Students also stay away because of expensive prices and sometimes hostile atmosphere."

Weather the traditional pub can survive in the industry remains to be seen, however it is going to be a long road ahead.

JN2053 - Map of closures to the traditional pubs across Preston

This is a map that pins the locations of the traditional pubs in Preston which have closed in the past few years. It also looks at the pubs in Preston which are temporarily closed. As well as some of the ones (both chain pubs and traditional pubs) which are currently open for business. The map also includes pictures of most of the pubs a few of which I have taken, and the rest gathered from internet sources such as Flickr.

Map Key

Red Pin - Not to be Re-opened as a pub
Yellow Pin - Un-occupied still available open "to let" as a pub
Green Pin - Currently open for business


View Larger Map