Call for one drink a week to support local pubs
IF everyone who enjoys a beer stopped into their local pub once a week, it would give Cheltenham hostelries a huge shot in the arm.
That's the view of Fiery Angel landlord Jo Dimond-Brown, who has urged people to step forward and support the town's drinking houses – one pint at a time.
With Cheltenham's population estimated at around 115,300, assuming half that number enjoy a drink but don't frequent pubs, it would mean an extra 57,650 drinks being bought in the town each week.
And, at, an average pint of beer costs £3, it could mean a boost to the pub economy of around £172,950 per week – which equates to nearly £9 million a year before tax, or just over £7 million after beer duty.
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Divide that equally between Cheltenham's 90-odd pubs and profits could soar by nearly £80,000 at each venue.
Mr Dimond-Brown said although the figures might seem fanciful, everyone could do their bit.
He said: "It might not sound like much, but if everyone who likes a beer went into their local pub just once a week and ordered one pint – it would make such a difference.
"Times are tough in the trade and no one wants to see the town lose any more pubs. A lot of people enjoy a drink, but many are choosing to do it at home. That is what we are dealing with.
"If we could get people to come into their favourite local pub and enjoy one beer a week, it would go a long way to solving our problem."
He added that there would be other benefits too, saying: "By coming to the pub, people can drink in a more sociable atmosphere and catch up with people they might not otherwise see.
"It's just one drink – we're not asking people to empty their wallets. But it would really help to keep our community pubs alive."
The Echo launched the Save Our Pubs campaign earlier this year.
It is aimed at encouraging people to support their local drinking houses and build pressure on the Government to relax the pub tie – the arrangement through which large pub companies can dictate the price of beer sold at a venue.
Andrew Frape, chairman of the Gloucestershire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said: "It's a particularly difficult time for pubs and the message we are trying to get across is 'you've got to use them or lose them'."
OPINION, P8
Comments
by helend498
Friday, September 14 2012, 11:21PM
“I'd pop into a pub tomorrow if I could have a cigarette with my drink in a safe, warm and comfortable environment. Until that happens, I'll continue to drink at home with my non-smoking and smoking family and friends.
Families and friends stick together (smoking and non-smoking alike).
It's a shame that the state can't safeguard all of its law-abiding citizens; instead it chooses to pass laws to suit anti-smokers only who prefer to abuse and neglect a rather large minority.
An element of choice should have always been provided (as in the majority of EU countries) to ensure that all legal citizens were catered for.
Personally, I am not prepared to be treated with 45% less rights than an animal (as my family, friends and work colleagues agree), and 100% less rights than a non-smoker, and so will never be prepared to put myself in that situation.”
by georgette2010
Friday, September 14 2012, 7:09PM
“Sadly, the reality of the pub industry is the fact that the pubcos and many (but not all) family brewers charge their tenants far too much for the beer. Often they are charging nearly double what you can buy a barrel of beer for on the free-trade. Often they insist in draconian full ties, which mean you have to buy everything , wines, spirits and minerals, keg beers and lagers from them, again at over inflated prices and because of this, the landlord has no option but to pass the cost on to the customer in order to make his G.P to pay his rent and utility bills. The full tie also means that often there is less of a product range. It is a flawed and failing business model which needs to be addressed and tackled by the Government and until this happens, more pubs will close. Going out for a drink of an evening is fast becoming a preserve of the rich, as the working man is being priced out, which is why Cheapspoons are doing so well, as they offer product choice at a competitive price.”
by Mdolla
Friday, September 14 2012, 4:47PM
“Bring back smoking then I might do.”
by suffolkpunch
Friday, September 14 2012, 9:58AM
“When I'm allowed to have a cigarette with my pint inside the pub I will support my local pub.”
by balkanman
Friday, September 14 2012, 9:58AM
“what a stupid idea. tackle the real problem. pubs in the enterprise, punch and arkell chains simply cannot compete with the Weatherspoons and their nasty tasting ales and beers, yates with their cheap promotions which encourage binge drinkes and and clubs like the UNited services who simply ignore all rules of membership. You can hire out their back room, no membership required and 90 percent of those attend such functions have not membership even temporary, wonder would the be insured if something serious happened on such occasions.
Unfair selection of pubs by enterprise to give cheap drinks to pubs like the Sudely, Double Barrell, while closiing down such good pubs as the Cat and fiddle, prince of wales, sherborne and rumour now has it the fox and hounds, the irish oak now on the market, CREAT A FAIR PLAYING FIELDS and I have no doubt the good landlords will survive. However take any weekday evening, there is nothing ongoing to attract any sensible individual to a pub in Cheltenham they are characterless, boring, drab, and unless you can stand the company of the student drinkers, where at least this is sensisble like until 10 pm when they are blotto, the pub trade in Cheltenham offers no incentive to come, Food can get this at home or in a restaurant if that is my choice, and most pubs offer way over the top prices, except again for weatherspoons and their plastic food. Sorry but Cheltenham pubs are dying because of the Chain of the owners who are now more interested in selling these properties for profit as more apartment and killing the heart of the town.”
by cosmicc
Friday, September 14 2012, 9:22AM
“I'm already doing the work of a considerable number of people - I hope they appreciate it !!”
by thomas1996
Friday, September 14 2012, 8:47AM
“The only way pubs could get the crowds back last seen in the 1990's is to mount a legal challenge to stop supermarkets from selling cheap booze at a third of pub prices, or offer to taxi the punters from home to/from the pub to avoid any worries on drink driving, put internet access to each table/bar so people can carry on bidding on ebay, check faceache & titter and let people smoke where they want to again.
I somehow think any of the above ain't gonna happen”
by elgoog
Friday, September 14 2012, 8:38AM
“" If everyone who enjoys a beer stopped into their local pub once a week, it would give Cheltenham hostelries a huge shot in the arm."
Alternatively; If the pubs gave free beer it would give drinkers a huge shot in the arm. Lets celebrate.”