According to Bloomberg.com in 2023 more than two pubs closed every day in England and wales with around 383 pubs demolished or converted according to their data. 2023 saw four pubs in bedminster close in a singular day citing reasons such as unforeseen circumstances and the cost of living crisis as reasons for their closure.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 A long-running Bristol pub has suddenly closed its doors. The Sugarloaf on St Mark's Road
00:07 in Easton has ceased trading with immediate effect. A notice outside of the pub says the
00:13 closure is due to rising costs suffered across all aspects of the business and the health
00:19 deterioration of the licensee. The pub, owned by Star Pubs, a subsidy of Heineken, is hugely
00:26 popular with locals living around St Mark's Road and conveniently located a short walk
00:31 away from Stapleton Road station. But are locals concerned about the future of Bristol
00:36 pubs? "Well, it's probably down to the brewers, the owners, asking for too much rent. Less
00:47 extra payments. A lot of them have to work very hard just to pay their rent." "I don't
00:55 drink alcohol, but I'm not against people drinking alcohol in the pubs if they want
00:59 to have a drink, you know, a typical pint. I don't really go in pubs, not really. I mean,
01:05 I've got, just outside Westfield, I like the cafes here, you know, so I go for a cuppa
01:09 in there, you know, and a snack if necessary. It's a nice place, Westfield's friendly,
01:15 good place." According to Bloomberg.com, in 2023, more than two pubs closed every day
01:22 in England and Wales, with around 383 pubs demolished or converted according to their
01:29 data. 2023 saw four pubs in Bedminster close in a singular day, citing reasons such as
01:35 unforeseen circumstances and the cost of living crisis as reasons for their closure. But have
01:41 locals noticed a decline in local pubs? "Yeah, I think that would really be a shame if we
01:47 lost more of the pubs. I mean, there has been a gradual decrease in pubs since supermarkets
01:54 started selling alcohol, but I do think it would be a shame if more closed down." "I
01:59 think so, and I think part of the problem is that the brewery prices are so high. So,
02:05 yeah." Last year, a community pub in central Bristol had been saved from redevelopment
02:11 into flats by the landlord on one of the city's best-known boozers. Sam Gregory of the Bank
02:18 Tavern in Old City area of Bristol had bought the Crown Tavern in St Jude's, which closed
02:24 its door mid-23. A Victorian pub that was once used for St Jude's Boxing Club. But the
02:31 locals have a favourite pub in the city of Bristol. "Not a favourite one, really. I like
02:37 to go to a variety and try out different ones. I do like the White Lion here in West Freon
02:41 Trim, that's very good. It's very good value." "Oh, definitely. The White Horse here has
02:47 been closed for ages. It's still got a 'To Let' sign outside it. I noticed that today.
02:53 We did have another pub, the Forrester's, that closed. That's now a Tesco. So, yes,
02:59 definitely." Only time will tell what the future of Bristol pubs looks like.
03:03 [BLANK_AUDIO]