King Charles Tavern closed? Options

[Guest_Bill1_*]

Back on topic..............


I saw Paddy loading up a transit van this morning, so they are definitely off.

I hope whatever venture he has planned is successful.

[TallDarkAndHands...]

Yes. Good luck to him. I can't see other tied Pub's lasting either. I'm afraid the breweries are killing the Goose that lays the egg as its slave labour to run a tied house. I think there should be some legisilation to deal with the breweries with regard to this issue.

[Bloggo]

Yes. Good luck to him. I can't see other tied Pub's lasting either. I'm afraid the breweries are killing the Goose that lays the egg as its slave labour to run a tied house. I think there should be some legisilation to deal with the breweries with regard to this issue.

You're right, as the closure of so many pubs across the country is a fundamental change in the culture of Gt Britain. The local pub was a focal point for many villages and the greed that seems to have permeated the pub trade is changing this. Pubs should be subject to some legislation that allows them to be profitable without expoiting the public by ever increasing unreasonable prices and protects them from being sold for developement.

[blackdog]

You're right, as the closure of so many pubs across the country is a fundamental change in the culture of Gt Britain. The local pub was a focal point for many villages and the greed that seems to have permeated the pub trade is changing this. Pubs should be subject to some legislation that allows them to be profitable without expoiting the public by ever increasing unreasonable prices and protects them from being sold for developement.

Legislation is unlikely - a recent report from the Monopolies Commission (or whatever they are called these days) came out in favour of allowing the pubcos to continue to use all of their restrictive practices.

It would also be very difficult to legislate to ensure profitability - like it or not people don't go to the pub as much as they used to, so pub closures are inevitable. The pub closures are not the fundamental change in the culture of Gt Britain if the culture had remained the same pubs would have survived, there just isn't the demand to keep them going.

[Andy Capp]

Pubs are profitable, but due to the way breweries operate, it is difficult for talented people to reap the benefits of their skill. The better you are, the more they screw you.

We have to realise, though, that we don't know if this is the case in this instance! We have no official reason for why this is happening. Things are not always what they seem.

[DrPepper]

Pubs are profitable, but due to the way breweries operate, it is difficult for talented people to reap the benefits of their skill. The better you are, the more they screw you.

We have to realise, though, that we don't know if this is the case in this instance! We have no official reason for why this is happening. Things are not always what they seem.

Pubs are not always at the hands of the brewery, if a Landlord doesn't want to be tied there is always the good old Free House.

[Andy Capp]

A good question then, how many freehouses are there in the Newbury district?

[Guest_Bill1_*]

The blanket ban on smoking hasn't helped either.

[DrPepper]

A good question then, how many freehouses are there in the Newbury district?

No idea, however you don't have to be tied to the brewer - Green King for example offers the option of being "free" but you either have to pay a higher rent or a higher purchase price for the lease - I can' remember which.

[Jayjay]

You're right, as the closure of so many pubs across the country is a fundamental change in the culture of Gt Britain. The local pub was a focal point for many villages and the greed that seems to have permeated the pub trade is changing this. Pubs should be subject to some legislation that allows them to be profitable without expoiting the public by ever increasing unreasonable prices and protects them from being sold for developement.

But when the pubs do try to make prices more customer friendly they get slagged off for encouraging drinking.

[JeffG]

Somebody remind me how much of the cost of a pint of beer goes to the government...

I think the reason that fewer people go to pubs these days is that they (the pubs, not the people!) have been taken over by binge-drinking kids, or at least that is the impression one gets.

[TallDarkAndHands...]

Somebody remind me how much of the cost of a pint of beer goes to the government...

I think the reason that fewer people go to pubs these days is that they (the pubs, not the people!) have been taken over by binge-drinking kids, or at least that is the impression one gets.

Drink driving laws have affected trade as well. Back in the 70s and early 80s many more people risked it. Times have changed and for the better but this is another factor.

[JeffG]

Drink driving laws have affected trade as well.

Perhaps for country pubs. But for pubs close to centres of population (e.g. town centre), where most people walk to and from, I don't think that's a significant factor.

[Andy Capp]

But when the pubs do try to make prices more customer friendly they get slagged off for encouraging drinking.

They do with 2 for 1 and happy hour schemes, but what we are talking about are pints for around £3.50. £2.50 seems a more appropriate price to me, without turning me into a raging Oliver Reed.

Somebody remind me how much of the cost of a pint of beer goes to the government...

You have excise duty* per pint (manufacturing charge), plus VAT, which is charged at retail price.

* http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/hmexshmanual/hmexsh5020.htm

"For a pint of 4% beer, 37.4p goes in just excise duty, not counting the VAT of 17.5%. This excise duty rises to 50p for a 5% strength brew. In contrast just 7p is spent on the raw materials such as hops and barley."

http://money.uk.msn.com/your-cash/articles...entid=152536149

I think the reason that fewer people go to pubs these days is that they (the pubs, not the people!) have been taken over by binge-drinking kids, or at least that is the impression one gets.

Drink driving laws have affected trade as well. Back in the 70s and early 80s many more people risked it. Times have changed and for the better but this is another factor.

Smoking ban
Less drink driving
Internet/email/social networking
Game consoles
Licensing laws
24 hour supermarkets and inexpensive offsales
More use of recreational drugs
More TV/DVDs
Mobile phones and the cost of making phone calls
Health awareness

Are things I can think of that might affect pub usage.

Perhaps for country pubs. But for pubs close to centres of population (e.g. town centre), where most people walk to and from, I don't think that's a significant factor.

Yes, but in a situation where it is not likely to be any one thing, it all adds up.

[Ted Maul]

Personally I take after my dad, Ive never really liked pubs, and would rather spend £4 on 4 cans and sit at home with them than £3.66 on one pint in a crowded bar.

Tell people you like a few cans at home and you get funny looks though

[Iommi]

I like to have a clear head at home; unless it is after I've been to the pub!

[Iommi]

A mate spoke to Patrick on Sunday: apparently he had a lean few months a while back, but he did invest money of his into this pub, but he has now had enough as making any reasonable margin is too hard. Rents were an issue mentioned, but there wasn't any mention about The Diamond Tap.

This is all word-of-mouth you understand.

[blackdog]

Pubs are not always at the hands of the brewery, if a Landlord doesn't want to be tied there is always the good old Free House.

A huge number of pubs are tied to pubcos, probably more than are tied to breweries.

However, Greene King, owners of the KC, are one of, if not the, biggest breweries in England in terms of the number of pubs they own (approaching 2,000).

[Andy1]

A mate spoke to Patrick on Sunday: apparently he had a lean few months a while back, but he did invest money of his into this pub, but he has now had enough as making any reasonable margin is too hard. Rents were an issue mentioned, but there wasn't any mention about The Diamond Tap.

This is all word-of-mouth you understand.

I heard simular as well. Making a living is one thing but making a profit is another

[Brewmaster]

A huge number of pubs are tied to pubcos, probably more than are tied to breweries.

However, Greene King, owners of the KC, are one of, if not the, biggest breweries in England in terms of the number of pubs they own (approaching 2,000).

I don't know if you are a member of CAMRA, Blackdog, but you are saving me an awful lot of time and effort in posting this essential information!