Time, gentlemen to support your ‘local’ (From Wiltshire Times)

Time, gentlemen to support your ‘local’

3:10pm Friday 28th November 2008

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AN INDEPENDENT west Wiltshire publican has backed the Wiltshire Times & Chippenham News’ Support Your Local campaign.

Ken Roberts, owner of the Cross Guns at Avoncliff, The Inn at Freshford and the Box Steam Brewery, has pledged his backing as we urge readers to support their locals in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.

Mr Roberts said: “I absolutely support the campaign. Local business works.

“The problem you have with a lot of pubs is that they are run by big companies in the Midlands and are not localised at all.

“We make sure we cater for all types of people – locals, tourists and celebrities alike.”

According to the Campaign for Real Ale pubs are feeling the pinch and are shutting at the record rate of five a day across the country.

West and north Wiltshire has been no exception to this trend, with the Hungerford Arms at Farleigh Hungerford and the Horse & Groom, Westbury announcing their closures.

A recent report from CAMRA suggested that up to one in eight pubs nationwide could close by 2012.

Gordon King, who runs the Box Steam Brewery for Mr Roberts, said: “Compared to some other pubs we are doing pretty well because we have two fairly large pubs and the brewery.

“People are taking more of an interest in where their food and drink comes from, so in that sense I think they are ‘supporting their local’.

“Companies like us are at the grass roots and so we make decisions based on what the local community wants, and that makes a difference.”

Devizes brewery and pub owners Wadworth are also behind our campaign, and PR manager Jonathan Pollock said: “We most certainly do support the campaign.

“The fact that five pubs a day are closing is terrifying.

“It’s a difficult time for licensees, but there are those that are really going out to get customers in and are doing very well.”

The Government’s pre-budget report has cut the VAT pubs pay by 2.5 per cent, but at the same time raised alcohol duty by eight per cent, meaning the two largely cancel each other out. However, the changes do mean the average price of a pint should fall slightly.

Gareth MacDonald, North West Wiltshire CAMRA secretary, said: “Pubs are shutting at a record rate and the credit crunch isn’t going to help. We definitely back the Support Your Local campaign. We support the principle of well run local pubs which can play a key role in supporting community life.

“We are delighted to support all who work towards this worthwhile objective.”

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