“woah 2308, yes im aware the landlords were just tennants in a building/pub owned by the brewery, maybe i read the article wrong but i read it as the pig was closing for good and martyn frm the the pig was the new landlord of the old crown.”

“Dfcfc, allow me to elucidate. The pub is owned by a pub company and the occupier was just a tenant. The word I hear is that the pub will re-open with a new tenant in the near future. So, "bounced out" is a fair comment.”

“He wasnt bounced out, the pig just closed didnt it”

“Not much chance of the Crown selling real ale, it's a Sam Smiths managed pub and they only sell their own beers. Still, good luck to the ex landlord of the Pig, he's lucky to get a job after being bounced out of his boozer.”

“The pig isnt really in the best position to survive but neither is the old crown, since K C's closed years ago you dont get the drinkers walking down that way for a drink in the pig or the old crown.”

“Selina pubs have been closing up for years even before the condems came to power so you cant blame the torys for everything.”

“An excellent summary from Royal William about how we found ourselves in this position with Pubs.
Although the "Beer Orders" were well intentioned, it definately became a case of the law of unintended consequences.
All that happened was unscrupulous pub owning companies (Punch Taverns to name one) borrowed heavily to finance purchasing huge pub estates, on the back of rising property prices. When the inevitable happened, property prices crashed, and they were unable to service their debt.
As well as "sweating their assets" and failing to invest in the pubs in their estates, they tried to demand unreasonable rents from their pub landlords. Many just chucked in the towel, allowing more unsuspecting individuals to have a go at running pubs, not realising they were totally unsuited to the profession. This constantly revolving door of pub managers does not help build a rapport with customers.
Sadly, Gloucester has it's own pub owning company, which owns two of the citys most historic pubs. It displays many of the above mentioned traits,
I don't share Royal Williams bleak outlook on the future of the pub. I believe we will be left with a small nucleus of good pubs. I also believe people will always want to socialise with others in a comfortable, friendly environment, not at home in front of a TV/Computer with an microwave meal on their lap.
I would like to wish Royal William all the best with his business. I would like to come and support you but need a clue which pub you might run (!!)
I would also like to say good luck to Martin, from the Pig who did so much to raise the profile of ale in the city. He was up against it, running a pub at the bottom of a street with several other good quality pubs closer to the centre. Good luck in the Old Crown. Hope you can persuade them to return real ale to that pub!”

“Its plain and simple, people buy booze cheap at Supermarkets then complain the pubs have all closed. Pubs used to be the heart of the community until politics got involved and looked at how pub estates operated. In the light of day, they thought by reducing the hold breweries had on pubs would create competition. Breweries were forced to sell to pub operators who in turn charged stupidly high rents and ridiculously high prices for barrels of beer. Landlords were forced to increase beer prices to survive and then people just complain that the beer is too expensive. Annually high Increases in duty and the smoking ban have all added to problem but the only winners here are the breweries and the supermarkets. When you have nowhere left to drink other than your own home or a Toby carvery don't complain about the prices pub landlords charge for beer. If you frequented pubs more often they would be able to keep prices down due to volume sales. You just keep buying your cheap booze from the Supermarket with your microwave meal and keep telling yourself the world will be a better place because I saved 50p. When we are all sad and lonely and sat at home on our own (communicating through text messages or Facebook whilst watching X factor) we'll realise what we have done and ask ourselves "why did we let this happen". Divided societies have no voice, the establishment want you at home where your opinion remains your own, not being voiced in the community. I run two pubs, I work damn hard, long hours and face daily threats to my businesses all in the hope of keeping one of our last truly British institutions alive (and to make a small living) and reading that its our fault our businesses fail really bites with me. You want your cake and eat it, well continue to feed the tesco machine and when they have crushed every other business don't complain about not having a choice. You've seen it before with Butchers, Bakers & Greengrocers all going to the wall as they cant compete with the big stores. Now its the pubs turn. On average 35-40 pubs close every week nationally but no one seems to do anything about it. The destruction of local communities is in full flow were all supporting it. My best wished to Landlords everywhere who are facing what these two licensees have had to deal with and the hard decisions they have had to make.”

“Quite right dopalus - I would like to see TiG go back to the muppet who trumpeted the prosperity of Westgate street and see what views he has now.”

“Selina, the pub trade is dying anyway. Why try and pin this on the Tories? Utterly blinkered, moronic nonsense as usual.

Anyway, it's more to do with the fact that all the night-time trade now opens nearer eastgate street, where all the people go. Maybe it's the tories fault that people don't go to westgate street? Cameron you dastardly scallywag”