Death of the local: ‘We must act to stop our pubs calling time’

Sep 9 2008 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

PUB companies must do more to stem the tide of ale house closures, says a Huddersfield pub champion.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) revealed yesterday that 36 pubs a week are shutting – 33% up from 2007.

Bob Tomlinson, spokesman for the Huddersfield and district branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said pubs were finding it hard to compete with supermarkets selling cheap alcohol.

He said the problem was compounded by sky-high utility bills for landlords and customers suffering a lack of cash because of the economic downturn.

But he added the companies that owned pubs were not helping the situation.