Friday
Jul032009
Another one bites the dust
Friday, July 3, 2009 Nick Irwin is landlord of the Waggon and Horses pub in Sudbury, Suffolk. This week he was one of 18 publicans who signed the Save Our Pubs and Clubs letter that was published in the Telegraph.
Last night he appeared on BBC TV's Look East. It's a very interesting interview. Click HERE.
Antony Worrall Thompson was also on the programme but doesn't appear in the clip above.
Reader Comments (5)
I have said it before that the Pubcos were bought off by the government and the opposition. They have not been referred to the Monopolies & Mergers Commission despite clear evidence that their practices are anti-competitive and I am sure that in return the Pubcos do not fight the smoking ban.
The tenants and consumers suffer as a result and the All Party Beer Group contiunes to issue platitudes blaming the recession and supermarkets. Beer has always been cheaper in the supermarkets and during the last recesssion sales went up so those arguments are bogus.
If the All Party Beer Group asked for a referral to the MMC the Pubcos would fight back against the smoking ban with all at their disposal so politicians on all sides are allowing the pubs to die.
I saw the programme and was disappointed that AWT said that he didn't like people smoking in cars with children, when he wasn't even asked about it.
When will some people understand that you cannot give the Antis ammunition,based on lies, and expect to gaim any ground back.
Agreed Zitori ;-)
AWT said this at the launch of SOPAC too. Terrible own goal.
I have just watched the video.
What is clear (watch it again, if you are not sure) is, that the pubco is not the least bit interested in INDIVIDUAL pubs ("our BRAND is growing..."). It is only interested in the BOTTOM LINE. What is obviously implied is that this pubco is quite happy to see AS MANY PUBS AS POSIBLE (OTHER THAN ITS OWN) CLOSE DOWN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
When one considers that all the other pubcos are playing the same game, it is clear that there is a DELIBERATE intent, on the part of the pubcos, to ELIMINATE THE OPPOSITION - that is, the independents. Financially, the pubcos are able to withstand the difficulties of costs, but the independents are not, and therefore the independents will close.
At the end of the day, however, does it matter to me who owns my local pub? Frankly, it matters very little. Not long ago, I knew my publican very well (friendly enough to play golf with him). Now, I do not know him and DO NOT WANT TO KNOW HIM! I go to the pub for a beer. I chat with people I know. I go home. I have a glass or two of wine. I used to tip the pub staff generously - now, I do not tip at all. Sod them!
The situation is incredibly difficult. Politicians are very unlikely to admit that they bodged. There is a need for a politician with REAL COURAGE to defy the likes of the dotty Chief Medical Officer and say, "THE PEOPLE CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT TO! ADVISE US, BUT DO NOT TELL US WHAT TO DO, AND DO NOT CRIMINALISE US"