SOUTH Lakeland’s crisis-torn pub trade could be hit by more closures before Christmas, landlords fear.

Struggling publicans warned of the state of their industry at a sombre meeting of the South Lakeland Licensed Victuallers’ Association.

LVA chairman Colin Burrow, who runs the Hare and Hounds, Levens, elicited nods of agreement when he told the meeting: “I’ll be surprised if we’re still open at Christmas.”

In Kendal, licensees have recently quit or have given their notice at The New Inn, The Duke of Cumberland, The Dun Horse and The Masons Arms while several pubs – most notably the Kendal Bowman and the Cock and Dolphin – have closed because no one will take them on.

Mr Burrow said: “Pub rents are far too high. My electricity bill is £900 a month, gas is £300, then you’ve got water. No matter how much beer I sell, I still have to pay £600 rent every month. There is a limit to what people will pay for beer - once you get over £3 a pint people start turning their noses up at it.”

Gill Walber, of The Sawyers Arms, Kendal, said: “Most licensees are not earning the minimum wage and it is difficult to get out of the trap.”

Nigel Blamire, of The Bridge Hotel, Stramongate, said: “I stopped doing food about three years ago because you cannot compete with other pubs such as Wetherspoons where you can get two meals for £7.

“We have en-suite accommodation but the Travel Lodge just outside Kendal has 50 rooms, so the pocket money we got from doing B&B isn’t coming in anymore.”

Retired Kendal licensee David Mellor said: “In recent years we have seen five pubs close out of 32, and they will not return. There are more than five that are hovering on the edge of bankruptcy.”

Paul Ainsworth, of The Queens, Victoria Street, Windermere, said: “We get a good tourist trade but in the winter people don’t really come in. It’s that cheap to buy from supermarkets, we can’t compete with that.”

Sue Dawson, who is quitting The New Inn in Kendal’s Highgate, said: “All the money you take in the till goes straight out, most of it back to the pub company.

"You are hardly left with anything at the end of the month.”

Leanne Peart, of the nearby Fleece, revealed she and her husband Michael were considering quitting.

She said: “It’s getting worse. It would help if we didn’t have to buy beer from the pub company.”