Jul 3, 2009
Epps Surveys Publicans Amid Worries for Future of Reading East Pubs
Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary campaigner for Reading East, has launched a survey of pubs in Reading East, as doubts continue to grow over the fate of many local community pubs in the area.
Produced with help from a professional in the trade, the survey focuses in particular on the influence of “pubcos” attacked by the cross-party Business & Enterprise Select Committee. Companies such as Enterprise Inns, riddled with debt, have come under criticism after pubs such as the Jolly Anglers in Newtown, the Red Cow in Caversham, and the Whitley Tavern have all shut. Other publicans have found themselves forced to leave pubs as breweries and pubcos imposed rent rises that at times have left publicans under threat of bankruptcy.
Other issues covered include licensing matters, issues of beer tax levels and community safety.
The survey was posted to all known publicans in Reading East last week – not as a result of last week’s sudden closure of the Jolly Anglers. It is entirely anonymous although Cllr Epps will publish aggregate findings later in the year.
Gareth says:-
“Publicans tell me that they face issues ranging from fighting crime to being forced to buy beer at costs way above those paid by the customers of some supermarkets.
Fundamentally, the pub is a part of the glue that binds communities together. We know, though, that many local publicans are treated poorly by the companies that own our local community pubs. Forced to pay over the odds for beer, even before tax, they often face financial penalties for success in the form of steepling rent rises. That is why community pubs are closing at an alarming rate.
I want to see action at Government level to curb the abuses of power of some pubcos. I also want to hear from landlords how they see Reading town centre’s concentration of ‘vertical drinking’ bars and clubs – some of which could be better run and contribute to late-night disorder. Local residents wanting to go to a pub deserve choice and diversity and current policies are not working.
Most of all, I want to hear from publicans in Reading East and find out what they think.”
