Gwent pubs face festive crisis (From South Wales Argus)

Gwent pubs face festive crisis

11:40am Monday 14th December 2009

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PUBLICANS across Gwent say their industry is in crisis - with one saying the situation is the worst she's seen in her 24 years in the trade.

Many are blaming customers saving their cash because of the recession, cheap supermarket alcohol prices, and the long-term effects of the smoking ban.

Pubs which have closed in the past few months include The Angel, Baneswell, Newport, The Gladiator, Malpas Road, Newport, and The Somerset Arms, Victoria Street, Abergavenny.

An internet search of pubs for sale in Gwent yesterday revealed that there were 50 in the area up for sale, some already closed, and others for sale as a going concern.

For some, a good Christmas month may be the only hope of staying open.

Richard Overy at The Goldcroft Inn, Caerleon, says the decision on whether to call time for good is only a matter of months away.

"We are currently ten per cent down in sales on last year, which was bad enough in itself," he said.

"The smoking ban and supermarket booze sales are a major problem, and students in Caerleon are staying at the university bar to drink rather than coming into the town."

Jacqueline Griffiths has been a publican for 24 years, the past 14 of them as the landlady at The Rifleman's Arms, Blaenavon.

She said: "November was absolutely dead. We have had quite a few bookings over Christmas, and I believe that without or food trade, we wouldn't stay afloat.

"It is the worst situation I have seen in my 24 years in this business. It is now cheaper to buy spirits at Asda than at the cash and carry."

Mark Gane, who has been at The Milton, Llanwern, for the past seven years, agreed.

"October and November were very bad months. We were around 40 per cent down on last year," he said.

"The food business is definitely keeping us going. Addressing the issue of cheap supermarket alcohol is the only way to keep many people's locals in business."

Landlady at the Royal Oak in Pontypool Alison Comb put the drop in trade at her pub down to the credit crunch and job losses and The Scrum Half bar on Chepstow Road, Maindee, has seen takings drop 40 per cent on this time last year.

Diane Forley, who has run the Prince of Wales, Risca, for the past 10 years, said trade had been hit by drinkers using the rail link to travel to Cardiff.

Staff at The Tilers Arms, Blaina, said two other pubs in the village had closed in the past year, and its drinks trade was down by 30 per cent.

But its food trade was up and had kept the pub open. Ben Chick who manages The Riverside Tavern, Newport, said they have been running at a loss all year.

Jon Pisani, who runs the Greyhound Inn, Newport, said he is hoping business will be around the same as last year, despite last year's takings being down 16 per cent.

Mr Pisani, who is also secretary of Pubwatch, said: "The Christmas rush hasn't really started until the 15th over the past three years."

Pubs which are bucking the trend tend to be those which are offering food, says Nick Reid of the Tredegar Arms, Bassaleg: "Our Christmas bookings are up 20 per cent on last year."

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