CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has launched the national “Pubs and the Economy” campaign which aims to promote the benefits of pubs to the British economy and encourage more people to use their local during January, which can often be a quiet period for the industry.
Pubs need to be supported
The lack of trade in the month after the festive season could prove to be the nail in the coffin for struggling pubs up and down the UK – with 26 pubs a week currently closing nationwide. Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive:
“Pubs play an important part in the UK economy and need to be protected and supported. The ‘Pubs and the Economy’ campaign does not only call on people to use their locals in January, but also highlights the importance of the pub industry overall and encourages people to support CAMRA’s call for a freeze in Beer Duty in the 2014 budget. This support could play an important role in saving many British pubs.”
To back CAMRA’s call for a freeze in Beer Duty in the 2014 Budget people should contact their local MP and ask for their support.
Call to ‘use your local pub’
“Alongside contacting their MP and asking for a freeze in Beer Duty, the best way people can help the pub industry is to use their local pub during January. Many of us only visit pubs over Christmas but if we want British pubs, which are such an important part of our economy and way of life, to survive then we need to support our local all year round.”
CAMRA has issued free promotional packs to around 7,000 pubs across Britain to help raise the awareness of the campaign. Included in the packs are posters featuring real pub staff and landlords from around the UK, including many such as licensee Billy Evans of The Derby Arms who works tirelessly to keep his great pub open.
“When we took over in June [2013] there was one part time member of staff, now we have five and would like to employ more, but the current economic climate doesn’t allow. So we work all hours to try to keep our heads above water.”
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