rhythm and booze Passionate About Proper Pubs - Issue 17 - January/February 2013 The festivities are over for another year, the decorations are back in the loft and the shops already have their Valentine’s and Easter wares on display. Actually, you have to admire them for that, for as the economic recession shows no signs of abating, you have to be the ‘early bird’ to stand any chance of prosperity. So what now for our pubs and brewing industry? Many of you will have rediscovered the warm friendliness of a back street local during the festive period, or partied ‘til the wee hours at one of the larger venues, perhaps while enjoying some excellent live music from one of the city’s many talented bands. Remember just how much nicer that pint of cask ale tasted; instead of a cold can of fizzy pop you bought from a supermarket. Remember how much fun you had chatting with friends old & new instead of watching EastEnders. Remember how much better the live band you saw sounded, compared to the dross offered up on X Factor. But will you remember to continue supporting your local pub, or do you just presume it will still be there next December? According to CAMRA, pubs are now closing at the rate of 16 per week, with rural outlets and small community pubs the worst hit. As our blinkered politicians continue to hit the industry hard with punitive taxes in their war against binge drinking, the innocent drinkers are the ones being punished, and so it is easy to understand why the majority of people choose to drink at home these days. And therein lies the problem – far too much drinking in an unregulated environment, when even minors of 13 and 14 have easy access to Mum & Dad’s drinks cabinet. There are now more breweries operating in this country (over 1,000) than at any time since before the war, all competing to supply our ever dwindling pub market, yet the big players in the game – the global giants like Carlsberg, Heineken, InBev and Coors – continue to supply the supermarkets with canned beer at about a quarter of the cost they charge their own pubs. Let’s look at the worst side of things. Amid a Siberian Winter and with rapidly rising energy prices; an increase in beer prices (due to the poor malt and hop harvest last year), another budget in March (most probably another duty increase), then even by charging well over £3 a pint, the landlord of your local will still struggle to make a decent wage, and that’s why so many pubs go to the wall. So fresh thinking is what we need, and perhaps a lower rate of VAT for the on trade would help for starters. A rate set at just 5% would allow beer prices to drop by around 50p a pint, and allow landlords to compete with supermarkets for once. They still couldn’t match them for price, but if you remember just how much fun you had at the pub; the excellent value meal you ate, the friends you chatted with, old Fred who played you at dominos while sat by a roaring fire. For many people who live on their own, the pub provides them with the friendly community centre they need. And just where are we going to find the next Phil Taylor or Ronnie O’Sullivan? If you consider the whole package a visit to the pub can entail, then perhaps, just perhaps, a few more of you might make that effort to visit your friendly local more often. Then, there might just be a few pubs left in which to celebrate again next year. Bram is the landlord of the Hand & Heart, the only surviving pub in Millfield. Happy New Year?
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rhythm and boozePassionate About Proper Pubs - Issue 17 - January/February 2013
The festivities are over for
another year, the decorations
are back in the loft and the
shops already have their
Valentine’s and Easter wares
on display. Actually, you have
to admire them for that, for as
the economic recession shows
no signs of abating, you have
to be the ‘early bird’ to stand
any chance of prosperity. So
what now for our pubs and
brewing industry?
Many of you will have
rediscovered the warm
friendliness of a back street
local during the festive
period, or partied ‘til the wee
hours at one of the larger
venues, perhaps while
enjoying some excellent live
music from one of the city’s
many talented bands.
Remember just how much
nicer that pint of cask ale
tasted; instead of a cold can of
fizzy pop you bought from a
supermarket. Remember how
much fun you had chatting
with friends old & new
instead of watching
EastEnders. Remember how
much better the live band you
saw sounded, compared to the
dross offered up on X Factor.
But will you remember to
continue supporting your
local pub, or do you just
presume it will still be there
next December?
According to CAMRA, pubs
are now closing at the rate
of 16 per week, with rural
outlets and small community
pubs the worst hit. As our
blinkered politicians continue
to hit the industry hard with
punitive taxes in their war
against binge drinking, the
innocent drinkers are the ones
being punished, and so it is
easy to understand why the
majority of people choose to
drink at home these days. And
therein lies the problem – far
too much drinking in an
unregulated environment,
when even minors of 13 and
14 have easy access to Mum
& Dad’s drinks cabinet.
There are now more
breweries operating in this
country (over 1,000) than at
any time since before the war,
all competing to supply our
ever dwindling pub market,
yet the big players in the
game – the global giants like
Carlsberg, Heineken, InBev
and Coors – continue to
supply the supermarkets with
canned beer at about a quarter
of the cost they charge their
own pubs.
Let’s look at the worst side
of things. Amid a Siberian
Winter and with rapidly rising
energy prices; an increase in
beer prices (due to the poor
malt and hop harvest last
year), another budget in
March (most probably another
duty increase), then even by
charging well over £3 a pint,
the landlord of your local will
still struggle to make a decent
wage, and that’s why so many
pubs go to the wall.
So fresh thinking is what we
need, and perhaps a lower rate
of VAT for the on trade would
help for starters. A rate set at
just 5% would allow beer
prices to drop by around 50p
a pint, and allow landlords
to compete with supermarkets
for once. They still couldn’t
match them for price, but if
you remember just how much
fun you had at the pub; the
excellent value meal you ate,
the friends you chatted with,
old Fred who played you at
dominos while sat by a
roaring fire. For many people
who live on their own, the
pub provides them with the
friendly community centre
they need. And just where are
we going to find the next Phil
Taylor or Ronnie O’Sullivan?
If you consider the whole
package a visit to the pub
can entail, then perhaps, just
perhaps, a few more of you
might make that effort to visit
your friendly local more
often. Then, there might just
be a few pubs left in which to
celebrate again next year.Bram is the landlord of
the Hand & Heart, the only
surviving pub in Millfield.
Happy New Year?
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Happy New Year
Thanks for a brilliant2012, here’s to aneven better 2013.- The Destructors and Rowdy Farrago Records
The Surrealist Sportsman’s ClubIn this issue, David ‘Dai’Roll turns his attention to Pool and Billiards.Locally, the most famous
ATTENTION PUBS AND PROMOTERS. All events are listed freeof charge, to ensure inclusion in the March/April issue, please [email protected] before 7 February 2013.
The Palmerston Arms82 Oundle Road, Peterborough
PE2 9PA Tel: 01733 565865
Burns’ Week Beer Festival(21st-27th January)
Celebrate the Bard’s birthdaywith ales from Scottish brewers
and whiskys selected by theScotch Malt Whisky Society.
Burns’ Night (25th
January) will bemarked in a traditional manner.
Lazy SundaysEnjoy Peterborough’s finest acoustic
acts, every Sunday from 3pm.
For more live music and events,please see our Facebook page
O p e n i n g T i m e s : Monday - Thursday 15.00 - 23.00
Friday and Saturday 12.00 - 00.00 Sunday 12.00 - 23.30
The WoolpackNorth Street, Stanground,
Peterborough PE2 8JF (01733) 753544
Stanground's Best Kept Secret- A 15 minute walk from the centre of town
Live Music with Jeff the Chef- Sunday 13th January (4pm)
n Open all day, every day
n Up to four real ales available
n Food served Tuesday to Sunday lunchtimesand Monday to Saturday evenings
n Quiz on Sunday evenings with cash prizes
Have a drink on us...Get a free glass of wine each when orderingtwo or moreselected mainmeals in January.