The Campaign for Real Ale asks for MP’s support to stop community pubs from closing for good
Pubs goers and beer drinkers in Northamptonshire are asking a local MP to fight for help for local pubs so they can meet the soaring cost of energy bills – which are putting local pubs under threat of permanent closure.
Chairman of Northamptonshire CAMRA Bernie Peal has written to Daventry MP and Government Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris to ask him to lobby for a support package for pubs.
The plea comes after the licensee of the Live and Let Live in Harpole, Miranda Richardson, cited soaring energy prices as the reason she would be ending her tenancy in August.
In the letter, Northants CAMRA Chairman Bernie Peal said:
“As a local consumer group, Northamptonshire CAMRA is worried about the ability of patrons to support local pubs through this tough time.
“We know that pubs are hard hit by the cost-of-business crisis, but consumers have the cost-of-living crisis too. We will continue to support our locals where possible, but they also need support from the Government with rising costs and energy bills.”
Nik Antona, CAMRA National Chairman added:
“I fully support our Northants members in raising the issue of skyrocketing energy bills for pubs. Not being able to go to the pub during periods of pandemic restrictions has made many of us realise just how valuable our community locals are as a part of our social fabric – bringing people together and tackling loneliness and social isolation.
“It would be a national scandal if pubs that have survived the pandemic are forced to close for good because they can’t cope with sky high energy bills.
“That’s why we are asking local MPs and the Government to offer some support to local pub businesses so they can continue to survive and thrive at the heart of our local communities.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
A full copy of the letter is as follows:
Chris Heaton-Harris MP
House of Commons
London,
SW1A 0AA
16 June 2022
RE: The Live and Let Live in Harpole
Dear Mr Heaton-Harris,
I am writing as Chairman of Northamptonshire CAMRA, on behalf of our 2,000 local members, with sentiments that I’m sure are shared by pub goers across the country at this difficult time for the personal finances of consumers.
You may have seen the news that Miranda Richardson, licensee of the Live and Let Live in Harpole, will be ending her tenancy at the pub in August due to the astronomical rise in her energy bills.
The closure of any pub is an immense loss to the community that frequents it. Pubs and social clubs are valuable community assets that foster cohesion, combat loneliness and social isolation and boost local employment and economies.
Everyone knows that the pub trade suffered greatly during lockdowns and restrictions in 2020 and 2021. To now see those businesses closing due to rising energy bills is devastating and an insult to the resilience of the trade in bouncing back from the pandemic.
As a local consumer group, Northamptonshire CAMRA is worried about the ability of patrons to support local pubs through this tough time. We know that pubs are hard hit by the cost-of-business crisis, but consumers have the cost-of-living crisis too. We will continue to support our locals where possible, but they also need support from the Government with rising costs and energy bills.
I would very much appreciate it if you would raise this issue with the Government, tell people about Miranda and the Live and Let Live, and ask for action to stop other licensees, both in Daventry and beyond, having to walk away from their pubs for the same reason.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Yours sincerely,
Bernie Peal
Northamptonshire CAMRA Chairman
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is a not-for-profit consumer group with over 160,000 members that has been operating since 1971. Our vision is to have quality real ale and thriving pubs in every community.
Press release from CAMRA
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