09 May Last Orders…forever?
Pubs are having to keep up with people’s demands in order to stay open in todays current financial climate. Is this death of the pub as we know it? Reporter Sidney Stanford investigates:
In a study conducted by CAMRA (The campaign for Real Ale) it is clear to see that in recent years pubs have been reducing and many landlords nationwide have had to bite the bullet and ring the last orders bell for the final time. Up to 2 pubs are closing down daily according to statistics from the organisation across the country. The BBPA (British Beer and Pub Association) also found that since 2000, more than 17% (this percentage is a whopping 10,500 pubs) closed down and this just goes to show that the pub industry itself if going through some major changes as time goes by.
Alcohol prices constantly rising puts pressure on pubs to raise their prices in order to meet the demanding tax rates they have to pay in order to stay open so this may be another reason as to why pubs are closing down so frequently. People do not want to spend a lot when drinking when they could drink somewhere else a lot cheaper.
Years before the cocktail, years before craft beers and years before extortionate alcohol prices in pubs, people used to spend a lot of time and money in these places whether it be for a drink with friends, a night cap or one of many drinks before a heavy night out. Nowadays, most pubs have faced the brunt of younger generations shifting the pub industry along with the times and had to close down yet bigger pub companies such as Greene King, Mitchell and Butlers and JD Weatherspoon’s have profited from taking the traditional British pub and converting them to fully functioning restaurants with a wide variety of menu choices that can appeal to a very wide demographic as well as cheaper priced drinks and cocktails. Some say that the death of pubs as we know them are down to these multi-million pound corporations doing whatever it takes to stay thriving and in business.
I spoke to Craig Livingstone, who for the past 12 years has lived above and run the Crown and Two Chairmen in Soho about what he thought was different in the pub industry now compared to how it used to be and how he kept his pub afloat and successful. He stated “if we didn’t do events and have products that appealed to a younger demographic our sales would drop. People do not want to go out for drinks anymore as it becoming too expensive so when people do go out you need to make sure that you keep on top of what is popular and in demand to kept a good amount of people coming through your door”. He also hinted that people’s taste in alcohol and things that they want to order in pubs has changed a lot in recent years. Craig said: “Where lager and spirits used to be top sellers, and just crisps and nuts used to do, people just want the newest cocktails and craft beers now and full kitchen menus for sit down food. It is crazy to see how quickly the industry is changing and what we as landlords need to do in our pubs to stay open”.
It is clear to see that without clever marketing ploys, keeping up to date and relevant with your demographic and product sales, and special events, pubs may feel the full force of this generational shift by younger demographics who are changing the industry as we know it. The number of pubs closing down may decrease again over the next few years if these factors are successful.
FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED:
The VT was made as a group. Jacob filmed and Leanne edited but I arranged the interview, wrote the script, come up with the idea, booked out the equipment and did the research and presented on camera.
