Campaign to reopen Bristol pubs
A campaign has begun to re-open seven well-known Bristol pubs that are currently boarded up.
With the motto 'love a local pub', the Bristol and District branch of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have spent the past week celebrating the Great British pub and writing to local breweries, pub chains and operators in the hope they will reopen the seven empty pubs, turning them back into the social havens they once were.
Peter Bridle, Chairman of the Bristol and District CAMRA Pubs Campaigning Group, said:"Currently there are quite a few boarded up pubs within our patch. They often make a very sorry sight.
"We believe that, with the right customer offering, there could potentially be tremendous opportunities for someone to acquire one or more of these pubs and turn them into thriving community pubs once again. Even better if they could be genuine free houses."
The pubs in question are: the Phoenix on Wellington Road, currently owned by Bristol City Council, the Plume of Feathers on Hotwell Road, a freehold with a reduced price, the Bell in Redcliffe, which was recently sold privately, the Rummer on the High Street in the city centre, a historic building which has been partially re-opened, the King Charles on King Square and Bell in Stapleton, which are both for sale, and the Printer's Devil on Broad Plain, to let.
Mr Bridle says many pubs previously considered unviable in the past by large operators have turned into very successful pubs. Both the current South West Regional Pub of the Year and the national winner are pubs that had been discarded by national brewers.
Encouragingly, three pubs recently opened in Bristol; the Quinton House, the Three Tuns and the Golden Guinea. Mr Bridle said: "I sincerely hope this is the beginning of the end. We will get out of the recession, and see a reversal of trends of pub closure."
The past few years has seen pub culture under real threat thanks to rising taxes, the smoking ban and competition from supermarkets. According to the most recent Beer and Pub Association figures, 39 pubs are closed every week.
While a large number of pubs have adapted to changing times, turning into 'Gastro pubs', improving food, and hosting skittles and salsa lessons, a BBPA report reveals beer sales in Britain's pubs were at their lowest level since the 1930s Great Depression, with alcohol sales in pubs falling by about six per cent over the past year.
Mr Bridle believes communities should be supporting their local pubs and MPs should take a more prominent role in helping preserve their place. He said;
"The toxic combination of high beer duty, unfair competition from supermarkets, the lack of planning protection for pubs and the smoking ban and in certain cases the beer tie have all impacted on the vulnerability of some pubs. It's about time this Government gave community pubs a fair crack of the whip and we will be writing to our MPs demanding that urgent action is taken to protect these community assets."
He adds; "With so much publicity surrounding binge drinking, well-run community pubs should be seen as part of the solution, not the problem. Pubs are about community and cohesion."
CAMRA visit The Mason's Arms in Stapleton today (Saturday) and The Eldon House on Jacobs Wells Road tomorrow (Sunday), both from 12.30am.
11 Comments
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by chris, bristol
Monday, November 09 2009, 2:51AM
“I think CAMRA is a bit of a rubbish little club to be honest. The members I have come across (in my past life in the pub trade) sit around and talk about how much they like drinking ale and how great they think proper pub pubs are.
Understandably, their type of pubs are in decline but are they actually willing to do anything about it? I don't see how suggesting that people should buy/ lease a pub that has a history of failing benefits anyone, except the CAMRA crew will have an extra venue to choose for their monthly meetings”
by SB, bristol
Sunday, November 08 2009, 5:24PM
“The biggest culprit for getting pubs closed down is Enterprise Inns. I have seen many pubs close due to the massive rents and prices they levy on their tenants who then end up going under. They then use a holding company who send out managers that could not organise a booze up in a brewery let alone run a local pub. Hence they lose custom and close the pubs down. Enterprise Inns get a grip!”
by Snakes, Brizzle
Sunday, November 08 2009, 8:57AM
“The reasons these pubs have closed down, in my opinion, is greed. The breweries want far too much in rent and then you have to buy their beer at inflated prices?? The way forward is a freehold deal, prices would lower slightly, people would be more inclined to drink when they had a better choice. Prices are so high, because the landlords need to get there revenue in to pay the breweries and rents. Not to mention exhorbitant business rates!!! Supermarkets are only supplying the goods people want at the right price. If you think they are cheap, you should try a visit to a wholesaler. You would be very surprised.”
by Karen, Bristol
Saturday, November 07 2009, 10:34AM
“OK maybe my first comment was a bit rambly so I understand by the moderator wouldn't allow it, but to sum up, yes keep pubs and off licences open and tighten up on cheap alcohol promotions in the supermarkets. Result, pubs with their community spirit stay open, people have to make the conscious choice to buy alcohol either at the pub, off licence or restricted off licence area of a supermarket and less fill fall into the alcohol dependence trap that home drinking encourages.”
by Pete, St. Anne's
Saturday, November 07 2009, 10:20AM
“I believe I'm correct when I say that the Phoenix closed on New Years Eve last year as the City Council increased the rent to the point where it was untenable? In addition, the only possible passing trade after the Cabot Circus construction work finished would be the users of the Cabot Circus car park. In that they are likely to be driving, it's unlikely they'll want to risk drinking & driving? Only last week, a notice appeared on the pub door stating the building is contaminated with Asbestos. More expense for decontamination if someone wants to take the place on?
As for many of the other pubs that are empty in that area alone, one has to look at the social changes too. Many people now living in the St. Jude's area do not drink on religious grounds. One other pub that closed, the Sportsmans Arms, is now a Somali Mosque.
It would be great to see the Phoenix reopen, along with the Sevenways nearby. But remember that the Mailcoach and Crown & Cushion were demolished for the new shopping centre and both of those pubs were busy before they were closed!”
by Roger, Nempnet Thrubwell
Saturday, November 07 2009, 9:37AM
“Mmmmm, druuunk alpha females...”
by Julraj, Clifton, Bristol
Saturday, November 07 2009, 9:24AM
“I read a fantastic article a while back blaming the rise in social acceptance of drinking women for the decline in pubs.
It focused on the shift in womens acceptance in pubs in the early 80's and the subsequent growth in more modern bars. These bars, like the junk all around Clifton stole customers from the pubs and simply ran them out of business.
Reformed pubs/bars are the deformed, pretentious mess we're left with, full of drunk alpha females every day of the week.”
by Mitch, Ashton Vale
Saturday, November 07 2009, 8:51AM
“Pubs in general are quieter than years gone by because going to the pub for a few pints today costs over a tenner and people simply can't afford it.
The government are pushing people in to supermarkets and buying packs of lagers and beers and taking them home. Unless they start reducing the price of a pint or glass of wine in pubs every budget, they will continue to close at a fast rate.”
by Nigel, Downend
Saturday, November 07 2009, 8:36AM
“The Phoenix was such a busy pub twenty years ago. It closed last year because the owner retired. Maybe because it is next door to the new hotel and Cabot Circus, this pub may have a viable future?”
by Roger, Bedminster
Saturday, November 07 2009, 8:29AM
“from 12:30am?! These CAMRA folks like to start early don't they?”