If you lose your pubs, you lose your England

Jan 14 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

As the traditional British boozer stumbles dangerously close to extinction, one group of North East villagers may hold the key to safeguarding its future, writes Andrew Mernin

THE carnage caused by the credit crunch and its associated fallout has not been limited to urban and industrial areas and is now threatening to reshape the very fabric of British country life.

Just as banks, car manufacturers and builders have been all but flattened by the winds of economic change in the last year, the traditional country pub is fighting its own battle for survival in the gloomiest of conditions.

However, at a time when 36 pubs are closing nationally every week and one shuts every 10 days in the North East, a brave band of County Durham villagers are leading the fight to preserve the heartbeat of our rural communities.

When the ugly effects of the credit crunch first drifted from the city into the country, The Bridge Inn, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, was on the verge of closing its doors for the last time.

But, within the walls of the pub – which patrons had found to be scarcely open during usual drinking times – a group of villagers formulated a plan which would save the lifeblood of the village’s community.

And so the industrious gang, led by director Chris Jones, created a not-for-profit trust and took over their favourite meeting place.

“The pub is the village’s hub of activity, where informal business is done, where meetings can happen and where people who haven’t seen each other for weeks or months can meet – it’s a social nucleus,” said Mr Jones.

Not only has the trust restored normal opening hours for its loyal customer base, but its has also become a meeting centre for businesses and groups in the village.

The trust encourages groups to use the pub as a venue for meetings, classes and functions while its menu is largely made up of local produce.

“We want to benefit the community, bring more tourists to the town, we will develop a programme that will bring Middleton extra services for the community.”

The trust, which was set up on the back of social enterprise funding, will look for ways to generate extra revenue streams to strengthen its position amid volatile times for customer-facing businesses. As part of its bid to attract more tourists into the village, it has introduced a cycle hire scheme which is expected to take off in the summer.

Mr Jones, who describes himself as a social entrepreneur, believes the formation of a trust will become an increasingly popular option to save pubs on the brink of collapse – although he sees alternative revenue streams as key to long-term survival.

“For those who are thinking of doing the same thing, you’ve got to think of a programme of alternative activities as wet sales or food sales won’t sustain the pub long term.”

On Friday, Mr Jones and the trust will re-open their second pub, The Grey Bull in Stanhope, County Durham, and they aim to take advantage of its position deep in walking country and on the Coast to Coast cycle route.

The scheme has won the backing of Camra – the campaign group for real ale and the brewing industry – which expects to see the County Durham trust’s model copied across the country.

Spokesman Jon Howard said: “Britain’s pubs are the lifeblood of many a local community, therefore for a community to re-pay a pub’s service by helping it stay afloat is fantastic and communities should be praised for their devotion to their local.’

According to Camra, 23 UK pubs are currently being run as local community trusts or cooperatives, but North East pubs entrepreneur Alistair Arkley believes this figure could grow considerably in the impending recession.

“We have had approaches from a few people asking for advice on how to run a pub,” says the New Century Enterprises chief executive.

“I have huge sympathy with communities who recognise how important an asset the pub is.

“There’s an awful lot of bad publicity about pubs around, with kids getting drunk and noise in city centres, but most pubs are what they say they are, public houses that are open for people to meet their neighbours and to socialise and that’s an important part of the fabric of our society in the North East – to lose that would be a disaster.

Mr Arkley also believes conventionally-run pubs could learn a lot from the entrepreneurial spirit shown by members of The Bridge Inn trust.

“Pubs have to do whatever they can to increase and support their businesses on top of wet and food sales. If you’ve got a building and enough staff, then letting rooms, opening caravan or camp sites and bicycle hire all help.”

With a Journal investigation earlier this month finding that at least one pub is closing down every 10 days in this region, not-for-profit trusts could be the key to stem the tide.

As the writer Hilaire Belloc once said: “If you lose your pubs, you lose your England”. Fortunately for the people of Stanley and Middleton, a loyal band of pub-goers are doing their all for the local community and ultimately the country as we know it.

Do you think the traditional British pub is dying out? Would you like to see your local run as a local trust? Go to nebusiness.co.uk/forum to share your thoughts on the topic.