Concern over supermarkets moving into former pubs

“You never know, Tesco might even start opening a new chain. "The Tesco Inn" pubs. They get everywhere.
" The thing is they don't need to apply at planning for a change of use, so it makes it easy for them to take these old pubs on."
They have license to sell, so needs a license to drink alcohol on the premises. Sorted.”

“if any super market chain is looking for premises to open there are the shops at arle farm in cheltenham that would be ideal for them they have been empty for years .”

“If a pub is not attracting enough customers to stay in business, it should not be propped up artificially, but as Walker100 has suggested, there may be other reasons why a public house goes out of business. The Golden Heart was doing a pretty good trade, I believe, but was closed down because, like the Harp, it had been associated with serious illegal activity. The residents who bemoaned its loss, including community leaders, could have spoken up about those activities earlier, or at least admitted their at best cluelessness, at worst, complicity.

People also complain when a church building is sold and then turned into a mosque, but that's also down to the loss of interest by the previous 'clientele'. Those people in the community who remain interested should get together to discuss how, practically, they can prevent those losses.”

“Why are people protecting pubs that are unable to make a profit? There are pubs doing very well out there, they have changed with the times. No longer are bars propped up with 'locals' drinking every night, all evening away from their families. The pubs that are doing well are selling food, offering entertainment and a place where groups of people enjoy their evening.

Its easy to have a go a the chain pub, but they've got it right. Wetherspoons is flourishing because they offer reasonable food at reasonable prices; they know what their customers want. The chains get big because they're good at what they do”

“@NibNobs Budwei$er a quality beer, are you having a laugh!

Someone remind me how many Te$cow$ Expre$$es are there now in the area?

Banksy Art on the matter.
Flag - http://tinyurl.com/9zef7vr
Petrol bomb - http://tinyurl.com/9bodny8
Sand - http://tinyurl.com/9mxv3rt

The people of Bristol took action!
http://tinyurl.com/9dfx3b6”

“MentalBeaver. I think the two that closed in Gloucester owe more to other factors, such as The Welsh Harp being closed because "It has been empty since early 2008, when it became the first pub in the city to be closed by police under Section 19 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act of 2001, due to intelligence over drug use."

The India House is probably a victim of a change in circumstance. Tredworth has a large and increasing Muslim population who simply do not frequent licensed premises. The more limited market are using successful pubs on Barton Street that cater for their customer wants such as One Eyed Jacks.

The fact is people DO and WILL want to drink in pubs and are happy to pay the price of a decent pub pint IF the pub gives them what they want. They don't want to drink in pubs that are not cared for or that are run by profiteers. I know pubs where it is standing room only in the evenings despite the smoking ban and despite the cost of their pint.”

“Supermarket Profit Plan:

1. Sell alcohol cheaply
2. Pubs shut down as they can't compete
3. Move into former pub sites
4. PROFIT!”

“"There are a lot of empty pubs around at the moment in prime positions. They were built long ago in the middle of densely populated areas so they are very attractive propositions to supermarkets. It is a very worrying time."

Why, only two in Gloucester have been converted, the other two are not even in the county. The two in Gloucester were not exactly salubrious places!

The fact is that decent pubs selling decent ale that people want to drink are actually flourishing as people discover that decent pubs DO exist. I for one really do not mind supping a cracking pint of real ale in good company rather than being offered a choice of "wife beaters" in the company of miscreants filling up on the way to clubs.”

“Somewhat ironic that supermarkets with their cheap booze are taking over closed pubs, which have partly suffered through the cheap booze available in the supermarkets.

There does seem to have been a number of small supermarkets taking over old pubs - at least the empty buildings then get a new lease of life, rather than becoming derelict eyesores. Plus, there are only so many mini supermarkets that can be sustained, so it's not as if every closed pub will become a supermarket.”

“Face it people don't want to spend any more hard earnt cash than they need to these days, we've all got used to supermarket prices for beer, such as a 12 pack of quality beer like Budweiser/Becks/Corona/San Miguel etc for less than £1 a bottle.

Pub prices are 2-3 times that coupled with the risk of drink driving (new lower DD limit coming soon making it only possible to have one drink before going over the new limit) then not being able to smoke.

Only the supermarkets gain from pub closures, now in MORE ways than one.”