Call for action after huge fall in number of Shropshire pubs
More than 15 per cent of pubs across Shropshire have closed in just seven years, new figures have revealed. The worst hit area is Telford, where over a QUARTER of pubs have shut.
Figures obtained from the Office of National Statistics show that Telford borough lost 35 pubs and bars between 2010 and 2017.
Across the county as a whole, the total number of pubs fell from 390 in 2010 to 330 last year, a fall of 15 per cent. In Powys 25 pubs closed over the same period, a fall of 13 per cent.
Paul Jones, of the Campaign for Real Ale in Telford and Shropshire, said the figures were disappointing.
“In recent times we have lost the George, which is now a Co-op, and we have lost The Beehive. We always try to fight pub closures, but with many of them it is an uphill battle,” he said.
Other recent closures include The Alexandra in Oakengates and The George in Shifnal.
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Across the UK, 5,745 pubs closed over the period, and there are 54 local authorities where 30 or more shut.
Pubs have been pointing the finger of blame at the taxman for their troubles, complaining about the duty on beer, VAT levels and the cost of business rates.
Britain’s Beer Alliance, a group of organisations in the pub and brewing sector, has started a campaign called Long Live the Local with a petition and calls for people to write to their MP to have beer duty reduced.
Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “We are calling on the Government to cut beer duty in the upcoming November budget.
“Seven in 10 alcoholic drinks sold in a pub are beer, so cutting beer duty is the most direct way of helping pubs. This is why we are backing the Long Live the Local campaign to cut beer tax.”
But a Treasury spokesman said 90 per cent of pubs across the country were eligible for business rates relief introduced in last year’s Budget 2017, which could save up to £1,000 a year.
Camra’s Tom Stainer said in many areas and villages pubs were the last remaining public meeting space, with community halls and post offices already lost.
“They also create jobs and bring money into local areas, which tend to be spent in the local area, as compared to large chain cafes,” he said.
“Many pubs help to support the night time economy in town centres and create safer communities.”
By contrast, there are 21 areas of the country which have bucked the trend by having more pubs now than in 2010. Top of the list is Hackney in East London.
