The rise of Facebook and other social networking websites has been partly blamed for the rapid closure of pubs – because people are catching up online instead of over a pint.
And even Prince Charles made a plea to save Britain’s pubs when he visited Cambridge and National Trust beauty spot Anglesey Abbey this week.
The prince stressed the need to protect local pubs in an age of “stultifying mono-culturalism” at the tourism summit.
The royal appeal came just before a new report by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) revealed that 137 pubs closed in the Anglia ITV region last year.
The smoking ban and the rise in VAT and business rates have all been blamed for the slow demise of the local.
Royston Pederston, manager of The Zebra in Cambridge, which has recently reopened after a refit, has also pointed the finger at Facebook.
He said: “My own theory is that pubs are closing because of the massive changes in society. People would traditionally go to a pub to meet friends but now they can sit at home and catch up on the gossip using Facebook.
“There is also the increase in home entertainment and the huge number of TV channels you can get now. The traditional pub is being squashed because of the internet.
“The smoking ban has also had an effect. I smoke but I do welcome the ban. I don’t want to go into a smoky pub. I don’t think it’s made that much of a difference.
“One of the big things in Cambridge is the high business rates. It seems we pay a lot of money but don’t get much back. They don’t even empty our bins. If this carries on and shops and businesses keep closing it could be apocalyptic for the city.”
The Zebra, The Corner House and The Haymakers all belong to the same management group and they have been fighting back.
Mr Pederston said: “The three pubs are run together and we help each other out. The Corner House has become a great party venue and The Haymakers a fantastic music venue with some famous acts.
“We do a lot of parties now and weddings and wakes. The pub is at the centre of the community and there are not a lot of places you can go where you can meet people in a relaxed and warm atmosphere.”
Julian Huppert, Cambridge’s MP, said: “I am extremely concerned about the number of pubs closing around the country, not only because of the loss of livelihoods and jobs, but also because they play a huge role in the community.
“I have signed the Campaign for Real Ale Charter promising to speak up for publicans and their customers in Parliament.
“I have also signed a Commons Early Day Motion expressing concern about the future of well-run community pubs and asking the Government to implement a package of policies to help them.
“I was also pleased to be in the Chamber to support Martin Horwood’s Bill to help the tenants of tied pubs, in particular.”
Nationally, 25 pubs are shutting their doors for good every week, according to the BBPA.
Around 1,300 pubs closed across Britain last year, with the loss of 13,000 jobs.
But the number of pub closures has fallen from 40 a week last year to 25 a week now, with the rate of losses highest in London and the North West.
A BBPA spokesman said: “East Anglia has many great pubs, and while towns like Cambridge have a vibrant pub culture, it has suffered from pub closures.
“And we mustn’t forget the huge role brewing plays in the rural economy in the region, which is very closely linked to pubs.”
The BBPA said the research supported its call on the Government not to raise taxes on beer in next week’s Budget.
Chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “If we really do have a pub-friendly Government as the Prime Minister says, the time to act is now – with a freeze in beer duty in the Budget.”
Unions have warned of fresh pub closures because of falling beer sales and rising rents, claiming that pubs were being priced out of the market.
Beer sales in pubs last year were down by 5.9 per cent, compared with 0.28 per cent for supermarkets.
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Set up in 2009, the PubAid website aims to highlight the unrecognised contributions to charity made by UK pubs in an effort to emphasise the positive role they can play in communities.
