Fears of pub crisis
Fears of pub crisis
FEARS are growing today that Suffolk is facing a pub closure crisis after it emerged more than 60 venues in the county are on the market.
In recent weeks several pubs in the Ipswich area have been advertised for potential landlords and The Royal Oak on Felixstowe Road has been boarded up following closure.
It is feared more could follow with the reason for poor trade being put down to the nationwide smoking ban which came into effect last summer.
There are currently 55 pubs up for lease across the county while eight are available to buy.
Shaun de Silva, Ipswich's Pubwatch chief and landlord of the Brewers Arms in Orford Street, predicted last April that as many as 20 pubs in Ipswich could close within two years of the smoking ban being introduced.
Today he said many management teams are struggling and deciding to cut their losses.
He added: “They can't make any money. After the smoking ban came in trade went down.
“They can't pay bills and have to relinquish the tenancy. It is happening a lot over Ipswich.
“The smoking ban has decimated takings, in some cases by 20 per cent, which is people's wages.
“Pubs were the hub of the community and life revolved around them but I would suggest times have changed.
“It is now so easy to get alcohol in supermarkets for half the price we can.
“People are having parties around their houses where they can smoke in comfort.
“Things don't look very rosy at this present time as far as the pub industry is concerned.”
Pub giants Punch Taverns have a total of 26 pubs on the market in Suffolk at the moment, with Greene King advertising 21, Admiral Taverns offering 13 and Enterprise Inns displaying three.
In a statement released last Wednesday Punch Taverns revealed it had experienced a tough festive period.
http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/
FEARS are growing today that Suffolk is facing a pub closure crisis after it emerged more than 60 venues in the county are on the market.
In recent weeks several pubs in the Ipswich area have been advertised for potential landlords and The Royal Oak on Felixstowe Road has been boarded up following closure.
It is feared more could follow with the reason for poor trade being put down to the nationwide smoking ban which came into effect last summer.
There are currently 55 pubs up for lease across the county while eight are available to buy.
Shaun de Silva, Ipswich's Pubwatch chief and landlord of the Brewers Arms in Orford Street, predicted last April that as many as 20 pubs in Ipswich could close within two years of the smoking ban being introduced.
Today he said many management teams are struggling and deciding to cut their losses.
He added: “They can't make any money. After the smoking ban came in trade went down.
“They can't pay bills and have to relinquish the tenancy. It is happening a lot over Ipswich.
“The smoking ban has decimated takings, in some cases by 20 per cent, which is people's wages.
“Pubs were the hub of the community and life revolved around them but I would suggest times have changed.
“It is now so easy to get alcohol in supermarkets for half the price we can.
“People are having parties around their houses where they can smoke in comfort.
“Things don't look very rosy at this present time as far as the pub industry is concerned.”
Pub giants Punch Taverns have a total of 26 pubs on the market in Suffolk at the moment, with Greene King advertising 21, Admiral Taverns offering 13 and Enterprise Inns displaying three.
In a statement released last Wednesday Punch Taverns revealed it had experienced a tough festive period.
http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/
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