The Government has introduced a ban on the sale of alcohol for less than cost price, which will come into force in England and Wales in April 2012.
The cross party consensus is that cut-price supermarket booze is a public order issue, is damaging to the nation’s collective health, and is also to the UK Pub Industry; Pubs are closing down of 6 pubs a week because they cannot hope to match the prices charged by supermarkets.
MP’s from all parties have demanded the end to the sale of cheap alcohol not only for the health of the nation, but also for the long term stability of their constituencies; they recognise that local pubs are often the de facto community centres for neighbourhoods and that low cost booze is the fuel for ‘wild west scenes’ in many town centres, every weekend.
Last year the Prime Minister had backed plans by ten councils in the North West to create a by-law making it illegal to sell alcohol for less than 50p a unit. However, the legislation proposed is for a lower minimum price of about 21p per unit of beer and 28p per unit of spirits.
Researchers at Sheffield University estimated last year that raising the price of alcohol to a minimum of 50p per unit would mean that after a decade there would be almost 3,000 fewer deaths every year and 41,000 fewer cases of chronic illness. However, a spokesman for Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said he had been reluctant to consider a minimum price per unit because it could be open to legal challenges relating to European competition law.
Opponents of a minimum unit price say it is unfair because it penalises all drinkers, not just those who cause or have problems.
Professor Ian Gilmore, of the Royal College of Physicians, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's a step in the right direction but I have to say, it's an extremely small step. It will have no impact whatsoever on the vast majority of cheap drinks sold in supermarkets."
As for the UK Pub Industry view, Paramount Investments spokesperson Steve Oliver said “The ban on low cost alcohol may just be a blessing in disguise to kick-start the pub industry in 2012. Even if the effects are only psychological and people get the message that Supermarket booze is no longer that cheap, it will be better than nothing.”
UK Pub Trade News
UK Pub, Bar & Hotel Directory
Paramount Magazine
Friday, 27 January 2012
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Oxfordshire lost 35 pubs in 2011
Thirty-five pubs closed in Oxfordshire last year, including 11 which will never reopen, the Campaign for Real Ale has said.
The British Beer and Pub Association said nationally 14 pubs closed every week, down from 52 a week in 2009.But the chief executive, Brigid Simmonds, said beer taxation was still a "big problem" for the industry.
She said: "We pay 40% of all beer tax in the whole of Europe and that is killing pubs."
The Lamb at Satwell just outside Nettlebed closed two weeks ago.Its co-owner Chris Smith said it was difficult to compete with the price of supermarket alcohol.
"You see the drinkers getting less and less all the time," he said.
Paul Clerehugh, from The Crooked Billet at nearby Stoke Row, said pubs were the most important part of the village and could be made to work.
"Pubs have got to be good to have any value to the community," he said.
Oxfordshire Pubs for Sale
The British Beer and Pub Association said nationally 14 pubs closed every week, down from 52 a week in 2009.But the chief executive, Brigid Simmonds, said beer taxation was still a "big problem" for the industry.
She said: "We pay 40% of all beer tax in the whole of Europe and that is killing pubs."
The Lamb at Satwell just outside Nettlebed closed two weeks ago.Its co-owner Chris Smith said it was difficult to compete with the price of supermarket alcohol.
"You see the drinkers getting less and less all the time," he said.
Paul Clerehugh, from The Crooked Billet at nearby Stoke Row, said pubs were the most important part of the village and could be made to work.
"Pubs have got to be good to have any value to the community," he said.
Oxfordshire Pubs for Sale
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Greene King Brewery Had Record Christmas
Reuters reports; Pubs and brewery group Greene King enjoyed record Christmas, helped by better weather than last year, and predicted further growth in the coming year despite a tough consumer environment.
The 213-year-old Suffolk-based firm, which operates 2,410 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland, said like-for-like retail sales rose 8.2 percent in the seven weeks to 15 January, boosted by an 11.1 percent rise in food sales and a record Christmas week when sales jumped 17 percent.
"It is clear that even in these difficult times, customers still look for enjoyment and some respite from the financial pressures they are facing," said Greene King Chief Executive Rooney Anand.
Britain's pubs are benefiting from increasing demand for casual dining as cash-strapped customers trade down from eating out at restaurants.
Greene King, whose brand include Hungry Horse, Old English Inns, Eating Inn and Loch Fyne Restaurants, said its overall profit, cashflow and balance sheet remained in line with expectations, but warned of tough trading conditions in 2012.
"Although we expect another difficult environment for the UK consumer in 2012, we remain confident that we will continue to deliver growth and value to our shareholders," Anand said.
In December the group said it expected to create 3,000 jobs in Britain over the next three years, including 2,000 apprenticeships for young people aged between 18 and 24.
The 213-year-old Suffolk-based firm, which operates 2,410 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland, said like-for-like retail sales rose 8.2 percent in the seven weeks to 15 January, boosted by an 11.1 percent rise in food sales and a record Christmas week when sales jumped 17 percent.
"It is clear that even in these difficult times, customers still look for enjoyment and some respite from the financial pressures they are facing," said Greene King Chief Executive Rooney Anand.
Britain's pubs are benefiting from increasing demand for casual dining as cash-strapped customers trade down from eating out at restaurants.
Greene King, whose brand include Hungry Horse, Old English Inns, Eating Inn and Loch Fyne Restaurants, said its overall profit, cashflow and balance sheet remained in line with expectations, but warned of tough trading conditions in 2012.
"Although we expect another difficult environment for the UK consumer in 2012, we remain confident that we will continue to deliver growth and value to our shareholders," Anand said.
In December the group said it expected to create 3,000 jobs in Britain over the next three years, including 2,000 apprenticeships for young people aged between 18 and 24.
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Holywell Pub with Development Land for Sale, Flintshire
Flintshire Freehold Pub and Development Land for Sale
Swan
Rhewl
Holywell
Flintshire
CH8
Gross Site Area: 24814 sq/ft*
£ 90,000 + VAT
Freehold
ALL OFFERS INVITED -Public house/development land for sale with full vacant possession. Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.
The property represents excellent value for continued licensed use / owner occupation. There is also enormous potential for redevelopment (residential / commercial / mixed use) subject to gaining the appropriate Local Authority consents.
The existing use class of the property is A4 'Drinking Establishments'. Planning consent is not required to change the current use to A1 (shops), A2 (financial and professional services) or A3 (restaurants and cafes).
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,657 sq ft*
Rateable Value: £9,000
Please note that VAT may be applicable in this matter.
Public House With Land for Sale, Flintshire
Monday, 23 January 2012
Newtown Pub for Sale, Powys, Wales
Freehold Pub For Sale In Newtown, Powys
Sarn Inn
Sarn
Newtown
Powys
SY16
Gross Site Area: 15173 sq/ft*
£ 225,000 + VAT
Freehold
LOCATION
The Sarn Inn can be found on the corner of the A489 and Lon Y Siop Road. Located in an attractive village only 6 miles from Newtown and 5 miles from the Shropshire Montgomertshire border. The immediate area is predominately residential. Commuteable to Shrewsbury, Welshpool, Newtown and Bishops Castle.
PROPERTY
Large detached 2 storey building. Site includes beer garden and car park to the rear.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 15,173 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,807 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £3,350
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.
Sarn Inn Pub for Sale
Sunday, 22 January 2012
The Salvation Army Seek Change of Use For Local Pub in Scunthoorpe
Barton's historic Salvation Army citadel is up for sale as the organisation prepares to move to new premises.
The grade two listed building in Queen Street is on the market for £199,000 after the Salvation Army purchased the Carnival Inn building in Tofts Road.
The pub closed in December 2009 and has stood empty since then, although the Salvation Army won planning permission to change its use to a hall of worship in November of that year.
Captain Nick Cotterill, corps officer at the Salvation Army's Barton-Upon-Humber branch, said the 150-year-old Queen Street building, which has belonged to the organisation since the 1960s, was becoming too expensive to maintain.
He said: "We are looking to re-locate our church from Queen Street because the building is now costing us far too much money to maintain and keep as it is.
The move to the Carnival will provide the Salvation Army with dedicated parking facilities for the first time, as well as improving disabled access and providing more usable space.
At the time of the change of use application, rumours circulated about the possibility of the Carnival Inn building being used as a hostel by the Salvation Army, but Mr Cotterill insisted this would not be the case.
He said: "What we do in Queen Street is what we will do in Tofts Road. We will be moving our Sunday programme half a mile up the road."
East Anglia Pubs for Sale
The grade two listed building in Queen Street is on the market for £199,000 after the Salvation Army purchased the Carnival Inn building in Tofts Road.
The pub closed in December 2009 and has stood empty since then, although the Salvation Army won planning permission to change its use to a hall of worship in November of that year.
Captain Nick Cotterill, corps officer at the Salvation Army's Barton-Upon-Humber branch, said the 150-year-old Queen Street building, which has belonged to the organisation since the 1960s, was becoming too expensive to maintain.
He said: "We are looking to re-locate our church from Queen Street because the building is now costing us far too much money to maintain and keep as it is.
The move to the Carnival will provide the Salvation Army with dedicated parking facilities for the first time, as well as improving disabled access and providing more usable space.
At the time of the change of use application, rumours circulated about the possibility of the Carnival Inn building being used as a hostel by the Salvation Army, but Mr Cotterill insisted this would not be the case.
He said: "What we do in Queen Street is what we will do in Tofts Road. We will be moving our Sunday programme half a mile up the road."
East Anglia Pubs for Sale
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Bradford pub for Sale, West Yorkshire Pub for Sale,
Freehold Pub For Sale In Low Moor, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Royal
New Works Road
Low Moor, Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD12
Ground floor footplate: 2475 sq/ft*
£ 165,000 + VAT
Freehold
LOCATION
The property is situated in Low Moor a small village south of Bradford City. The Royal can be found on Wooller Road at its junctions with New Works Road. The area has excellent transport links to the M62/M1.
PROPERTY
The property is an end of terrace building over ground and first floors with brick elevations under a pitched tiled roof. There is a small yard at the rear and a car park to the front.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 3,830 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,475 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £3,450
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.
The Royal pub for Sale, Bradford West Yorkshire
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