Worries for South Lakeland pubs after firm's record loss (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Worries for South Lakeland pubs after firm's record loss
5:04pm Tuesday 19th October 2010 in Cumbria news
ALE ANXIETY: Punch Taverns owns the Olde Fleece Inn
MORE pubs in South Lakeland could be set to close after one of Britain’s largest pub groups announced record losses.
Punch Taverns – which leases 17 pubs and manages one in South Lakeland – has earmarked 1,347 pubs across the UK for closure after announcing losses of £159m last year.
The news comes as economic forecasters this week predicted the UK recovery is losing momentum and will slow over the winter, – causing concern for publicans in South Lakeland.
Colin Burrows, chairman of the Kendal and South Lakeland Licensed Victu-allers’ Association and landlord of the Hare & Hounds Inn at Levens, hopes help can be found for pubs.
“There are still pubs closing every day and it is extremely worrying when companies such as Punch Taverns are struggling,” he said. “There are a lot of pubs in South Lakeland that could be affected and we hope that the new coalition Government will do better than the last one at trying to help not only pubs but small businesses.
“The problem is that people can get four cans to drink at home for the same price as a pint. People come to pubs for company and if the pubs are empty people won’t come.”
The group has sold 893 leased pubs within the past year, and a further 1,347 of the 6,770 it runs have been identified for closure.
A spokesman from Punch Taverns said: “This is part of our ongoing strategy to improve the quality of our estate and build shareholder value. We have always said that we plan to reduce our core pub numbers to circa 5,000.
“The pubs will be disposed of over a two to four year period and we expect many to be sold as going concerns.”
The news was also met with concern by the Campaign For Real Ale Group (CAMRA).
A spokesman told the Gazette: “We will encourage Punch not to place restricted covenants on these pubs, which stops them remaining a pub, and to sell the pubs at an affordable price.”
Comments(3)
leanne120480
says...
7:28pm Thu 21 Oct 10
I feel what this article has done, is threatened our future trade, we are a well established eating house, and customers love coming in to our old style coaching inn, for you to print such rubbish is insulting. Although it doesnt mention the pubs closing its the initial perception people have by looking at the head line and picture, they feel they need to read no further. They will think Oh yet another 2 pubs closing which is most definetly not the case in these 2 outlets. I feel a front page article needs to be published next week and sincere apologies to those affected by this, and that includes my staff, what must they have been thinking as well. Do your reporters not think of peoples feelings obviously not.
leanne120480
says...
8:04pm Thu 21 Oct 10
We have alot of xmas bookings for lunches and evening meals, and also parties in the function room booked, which yet again we have contacted these customers to reassure them there booking is still with us with no problems at all.
As the landlord it is our priority to look after our customers and ensure they enjoy every moment of when there in our pub. I would like to reassure anyone reading this horrendous article that Ye Olde Fleece Inn is open for business and will be for a long future ahead, and myself and my partner Leanne would like to apologise to our customers old and new for any confusion this paper has caused.
malcolm1948 says...
6:17pm Tue 19 Oct 10