Landlord rarely cry into their own beer
I TAKE a little bit of umbrage over the comments of John Bone (Journal, August 28).
While I do not wish to take away from the success of the team at the Olde Bull, who have done a fantastic job, he seems to imply that many licensees are looking for excuses as to why their businesses are struggling rather than succeeding.
While it may be true there are one or two landlords that simply cannot be bothered to try harder, the vast majority of publicans are hard-working people who are doing everything in their power to make their beloved pubs succeed.
Laziness and excuse-finding can be found in every walk of life and every trade, but it is often a misconception among people who have never worked in pubs that once the doors are closed the landlords retire to their Jaguars to count their cash.
Nothing could be further from the truth. When the doors are closed there is an incredible amount of hard work that has to go in to making sure the pub is clean and attractive, the beer lines are cleaned for nice, cold, refreshing beer and that the kitchen is prepared and ready for the next shift.
Then there's the cellar maintenance, the gardening and the sheer volume of paperwork that goes with running a pub.
It leaves little time for raising the children or relaxing in front of the TV.
Statistics show that, since the smoking ban, trade is down an average of 11 per cent in Britain's pubs.
On top of the ban, further adversity comes in the face of the mighty supermarket, the restrictions and covenants imposed by the breweries and Alistair Darling's draconian "alcohol-accelerator" tax.
I'm not even counting the poor weather or impending recession here, but an average of two pubs a day across the country are currently closing their doors – many for good.That sheer volume cannot, alone, be down to publicans crying too easily into their own ale.
Many pubs desperately need to raise their prices to meet the increasing costs of electricity (mine has risen 100 per cent this year), gas, water and oil, let alone turn their business into a successful and profitable one.
But they daren't because that will simply drive more and more former regulars to the supermarket where they can pick up the equivalent of a pint for 66p.
Pubs are sociable, fun places where people from all walks of life can meet in lively, friendly atmospheres to relax and enjoy each other's company but, if we aren't careful, there aren't going to be many left.
The publicans I know are entertaining, hard-working individuals who run great pubs and provide excellent service.
If they do, at all, cry into their ale it is only because they are fed up with being beaten up by the establishment and disparaged by a media full of incorrect perceptions of the trade and left with very little in the pot to keep the bank manager happy.
Mark Daniels
The Tharp Arms
Chippenham
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Friday 25 May 2012
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