Britain - 'Twenty-six pubs a month' close

Keep this in the back of your mind next year when the pro smoking lobby claims it was the ban on smoking that caused many pubs to shut.

Also, this article raises some questions about Caroline Nodder's, editor of trade magazine The Publican, grasp of the situation.

CAMRA's survey found:

Eight of 10 closed pubs were demolished or converted into houses

Only 12% of those who visit pubs prefer a town centre themed pub

84% of those who visit pubs prefer a country pub or community local

And yet Nodder claims:

"It is down to many reasons, an increase in red tape, more legislation and overheads are higher than they used to be," she said.

"Also the local village pub is not getting regular trade like it used to as in a lot of cases there is not the same village community or people are choosing to go into town more.

If I were a publican I'd be wary of advice in the Publican.
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