CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has today published the latest CGA CAMRA Pub Tracker statistics which show that 26 pubs a week are closing in the UK.
The statistics show that the rate of pub closures rose during the last 6 months up to March this year compared to earlier in 2012, from 18 to 26 per week across the UK, meaning that the cut in beer duty and scrapping of the beer duty escalator in this year’s budget could not have come at a more important time.
Mike Benner, Chief Executive at CAMRA, said
“We believe that the scrapping of the beer duty escalator and the extra 1p off beer duty announced in this year’s budget could mark a turning point for pubs. With a better deal on beer tax, the Government’s plans for pub company reform and the ‘List Your Local’ scheme, announced during CAMRA’s Community Pubs Month, we are hopeful that the fortunes of Britain’s pubs are set to change .”
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Notes to editors:
- The statistics refer to pubs which closed between September 2012 and March 2013
- Background to 2013 Budget and scrapping of the “Beer Duty Escalator”
In the 2013 Budget the chancellor scrapped the beer duty escalator (which raised beer duty 2% above inflation year on year) following a 12 month long campaign from CAMRA, an e-petition which earned over 108,000 signatures, and overwhelming support from pub goers and the pub industry as a whole. He also went one step further and actually reduced duty on beer by 1%. Overall, CAMRA estimates that this saved pub goers around 11p on the price of a pint, compared to if the beer duty escalator had stayed in place. - “List Your Local” aims to protect 300+ valued community pubs
CAMRA’s List Your Local initiative aims to get 300 pubs around the UK listed as Assets of Community Value by the end of 2013. Doing this gives a community more power should the pub be put up for sale and stops a valued, profitable community pub being sold for short term financial gain by the pub’s owner (or Pub Company). For more info visit www.camra.org.uk/listyourlocal
For further information contact neil.walker@camra.org.uk or call the press office on 01727 798 443