Beer at the ready: how the British Public House is fighting back

The great British pub, once a favourite pastime for the men and women of our country, is now a dying breed clinging on for survival.

A British Beer & Pub Association report claims that up to 52 pubs are closing every week every week, nearly seven a day. Since 2008, 4,500 pubs have closed in Britain. In 2009 alone, there were over 24,000 job losses in the beer industry alone, with the figure rising each year since.

It is worrying news for the industry, which has seen fierce competition from cheap deals at supermarkets, and rising alcohol levies introduced by the government.

However, the pubs are fighting back. A new campaign by CAMRA – Campaign for Real Ale – has seen 5,500 pubs across the UK unite to defy the gloom and entice new customers through a new national event.

The first ever ‘Community Pubs Month’, being held this April, aims to attract the nation to go to pubs and bars, by putting on special events, activities and celebrations, helping to reinstate the former golden years of the pub in Britain.

The public house in Britain has been around for many generations. The tavern can be linked back to the early Roman times, whereas the 14th century saw the formation of the ‘pub’ as we now know it today. According to pubs.com, “for centuries it has been a place where friends meet, colleagues 'talk shop' and business people negotiate deals; a place where people gather to celebrate, play games, or to seek quiet relaxation.”

But times have changed. Dogged by dwindling punter numbers and a government keen to crack down on binge drinking, the industry has suffered more in the last decade then it has at any other point in its long, colourful history. Although, according to pubs.org.uk, “15 million people still drink in their local each week.”

However, recent statistics released by CAMRA show that 9 in 10 young pub going adults (89%) visit their local pub to meet friends and socialise, whilst 1 in 4 currently married couples (25%) first met their partner down the pub.

Keen to tempt new customers to pubs across the country, CAMRA have launched their new campaign at a time of increased interest in the British public house. With an unusually hot spring and events such as the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee, the public need somewhere to go to enjoy the weather and celebrate with their communities.

In a sense, this is what the new ‘Community Pubs Month’ is all about. Over April, 5,500 pubs across the country will be taking part in the new initiative, hosting various events, from Ann Summers Parties to Pig Racing.

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive said: “CAMRA’s new campaign is all about reaffirming the vital importance of local pubs, and the essential role they play in many people’s lives.”

“Pubs are the beating hearts of countless communities across the land”, he added. “Without their existence, society would be a lot worse off.”

Campaigners backing the event hope that it will reignite the community view of the pub being the heart of a village or community. Already, pubs have drawn up several ideas across April.

The Leopard in Burton-On-Trent plans to hold an ‘Ann Summers’ party for punters to try on the latest lingerie, whereas The Market in Alton plan to host a charity auction and curry night this month.

The plans are being rolled out quickly in order to attract new customers before the planned increase in alcohol duty in the summer, which is likely to increase the price of the average pint by 15 pence. However, the recent announcement for a minimum alcohol price to be set at 40p a unit may provide some good news for the pub industry, where cheap supermarket prices have dented profits.

The plans by CAMRA are ambitious, and may turn regular punters off from going to their local drinking hole. But they offer a chance for the public house to rekindle its former glory days. Despite recent statistics from the Office of National Statistics ‘National Wellbeing programme’ reported that in 2010, there were 6 million fewer trips across Britain after the high of the ‘staycation’ shown in 2009.

Whether the pub industry will survive another decade or so remains to be seen. It all depends on the mood of the public. With families feeling the pinch across Britain, pubs may be viewed as a cheaper alternative for a good day out. Hopefully the plans will provide some good news for the economy.

CAMRA’s ‘Community Pubs Month’ runs throughout April nationwide. Visit www.camra.org.uk for more details.

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

This piece is a version taken from my 1st year portfolio, which I produced on my journalism course at the University of Kent

The New Zealand Diaries: No.4 - Food, glorious food.

Wherever you go on holiday, whether it be the oriental paradise of China or the sunny palms of the Caribbean, you are bound to try the different foods each culture has to offer.

New Zealand is no different. The food may not be as exotic as the grub served in Brazil, but it is nevertheless imaginative and tantalisingly good.

 When I asked friends before I went out to New Zealand what food they might link with the country, nearly all said Lamb. New Zealand lamb is world famous, and having viewed one of the production lines at Silver Fern Farms during my visit (one of the biggest producers of Lamb products), it came as no surprise to see just how good the quality of the lamb is out there. Not only does it taste divine, but it is a damn sight cheaper than the price we pay in the UK.

But being surrounded by baby lambs and friendly sheep made me feel guilty about eating lamb, although not so much as to turn me vegetarian. I was therefore keen to try new things, and this is where the friendly spirit of the kiwis helped me taste some of the island's finest delicacies.

At a BBQ, I experienced the interesting combination of fish in a 'White-bait patty'. A pancake of sorts, the small white-bait patty is viewed in New Zealand in very much the same way as we view Marmite; you either love it or hate it. I quite enjoyed it. As a savoury pancake, it was different and not as 'fishy' as I was expecting. After lamb, fish takes pride of place on the kiwi dining room table, and with so much fresh fish on offer, you would be crazy not to sample the catch of the day.

For snacking, an arrange of flavoursome snacks are available. Yams, like a sweet potato, accompany any roast dinner with their sweet, soft centre. Boysenberries - yes, that is a real thing - is a healthy option, which tastes lovely when served with plenty of cream.

For dessert, Ice Cream is a must. The world-famous Hokey Pokey ice cream is an array of colours and flavours, all brought together in what soft scoop. For after dinner, chocolate is always a winner. Whittakers chocolate is tasty and comes in a wide range of flavours. Beware fellow Britons; the Cadbury chocolate, which is popular in NZ, tastes a lot sweeter and creamier than in the UK. It was too sickly for me.

To drink, New Zealand wine is your No.1 alcoholic beverage. From crisp Sauvignon Blanc to fragrant Pinot Noir, a glass (or even the whole bottle) is worth downing alongside your evening meal. This is where going on a tour of the local vineyard is well worth paying for. For a less formal occasion, the local beer is great. Often served in a bottle, makes such as Speights or Steinlager are popular with the locals. If you fancy something less alcoholic, the national lemonade - L&P - is as New Zealand as Crowded House or the All Blacks. You cannot buy it anywhere else.

Besides the food, the New Zealand dining experience is enjoyable and varying. Whether you like a traditional Steak House (I had some of the nicest steak's ever whilst dining in Dunedin), something oriental or just a legendary cheese-roll at one of the many bistro's, eating out may be expensive, but it is a luxury that is worth paying for, and will be remembered in years to come.

And as a special mention, if you are stuck on where to go in Queenstown, make sure you visit the world-famous Furgburger. This small, yet heaving establishment offers the tastiest and biggest burgers in the South Island, and has won numerous awards for its burgers. If you get one, see how quickly you can eat it. The classic burger and fries combo took me thirteen minutes to finish!