OXFORDSHIRE faces a fight for the future of its traditional British pubs after it emerged one closes every 28 days, say campaigners.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) fears 15 per cent of pubs in the county could call final last orders within 10 years after 13 more pubs closed in the past year.
The Oxford Mail reported pubs had been shutting at a similar rate a year ago and the decline shows no sign of slowing down.
There are now estimated to be 797 pubs in Oxfordshire after the loss of 68 in the past five years.
The warning comes as South Hinksey faces being without a pub for the first time in 170 years after owners Vale Brewery submitted a planning application to convert the General Elliot into a house. The venue was CAMRA’s pub of the year for Oxford in 2007 and 2008.
Meanwhile, more than 70 villagers staged a sit-in at the Gardiner Arms’ beer garden in Tackley on Saturday night to show how much they value their local after it closed 10 days ago.
CAMRA members fear dozens more landlords are on the brink, with increased taxes on alcohol, the smoking ban and cheap supermarket booze leading more people to drink at home.
24 May 2010
Bitter fight for our pubs (From Oxford Mail)
via oxfordmail.co.uk
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