Not much cheer for the pub trade
THE chairman of Ashbourne’s branch of the Campaign for Real Ale says Government support for pubs is inadequate and the recent banning of takeaway sales could be another nail in the industry coffin.
Dave Etheridge has spoken out in response to the tightening of Covid restrictions, and has enforced national calls for a fairer deal for pubs, which Camra fears could start to die off during enforced closures.
Ahead of the country being moved into Tier 5 earlier this month, pubs were allowed to sell beer in containers to be drunk off the premises – but this was prohibited after fears people would congregate outside, drinking their purchases.
Following the latest national lockdown the government announced a support package that offers £9,000 for struggling pubs – but Mr Etheridge says much more will be needed to help businesses survive.
He said: “The £9,000 that grants have been announced fall far short of what is required by an industry that has already lost its most lucrative time of year.
“With no clear exit strategy, restrictions are likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
“The Treasury seems to believe that closing a premises is as simple as locking the doors and furloughing staff.
“Closed premises still incur costs such as heating and electricity, maintenance and the loss of stock due to the sudden imposition of restrictions.
“Breweries and property owners are losing some or all of their rent and we are now starting to see a worrying trend of rents being increased, leaving tenants to surrender their keys so properties can be sold for alternate uses.”
Mr Etheridge has also backed calls for a more level playing field when it comes to selling beer er in takeaway containers.
Some pubs s in Ashbourne, he says, can carry y on offering this service under their current licenses – such as House of Beer in Church Street t and Artisan an Cafe Bar in St John Street – but others will lose out to t supermarkets and traditional off-licenses. He said: “The loss of the right to provide a takeaway service isn’t straightforward. “Under the Licensing Act 2003, a pub with a premises licence that states ‘Sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises’ under its licensable activities can trade as an off-lice off-license.
“But it i is down to council lic licensing d departments to interpret the restrictions, which is why w we have seen see such a variation va in enforcement enfor across the country. “The “Th use of f Planning Class further confuses the situation. A premises with Class A1 license permitting off license activities can continue to trade.
“Class A4 places – the majority of pubs – would not allow use of the premises as an offlicence as Class A4 is not designated as a shop.
“The Government is allowing pubs to sell alcohol by delivery. However, this isn’t an acceptable alternative.
“Alcohol sales have always had minimal profit margins, especially for operators with ‘tied-in’ agreements and having to deliver reduces this margin even more with the cost of fuel and vehicle insurance.”
On a national level, Camra is petitioning the government for clarification on the restrictions and to permit all pubs and bars to offer an off-licence service.
The Treasury seems to believe closing a premises is as simple as locking the doors and furloughing staff Dave Etheridge