IPPRwelcomes Government action to save struggling pubs

The Government has announced:

• Funding for business support through the Pub is a Hub scheme
• Action to force pub companies to offer their tenants the option of a 'free of tie' lease, so they could buy their beer from alternative sources and to allow pubs to sell guest ales from outside their tied lease
• Changes to planning rules to stop pubs being demolished before local communities have had their say.

Author of Pubs and Places Dr Rick Muir said:

"At a time when 40 pubs are closing every week, we welcome this action by the Government. The decision to loosen the beer tie will give customers more choice and help pub tenants financially in these difficult times. Changes to planning rules will end the scandal of developers knocking down local pubs without asking for planning permission. We know that pubs are at the heart of life in many communities and these measures should help sustain them in the future."

ippr's report Pubs and Places: The Social Value of Community Pubs by Rick Muir was published last year and called on the Government to take action to save struggling community pubs.

Read Rick Muir's blog piece on this issue at http://ippr-policycritical.blogspot.com/

Contact

Tim Finch, head of strategic communications, 07595920899 / 020 7470 6106 / t.finch@ippr.org
Monica Evans, interim media officer, 020 7470 6112 / m.evans@ippr.org
Rick Muir, senior research fellow, 020 7470 6168 / r.muir@ippr.org