Calling time on pub that no one wants (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Calling time on pub that no one wants
9:00am Thursday 14th June 2012 in News By Josh Layton
The Prince of Wales in Union Street
THE steel shutters have been thrown up at a back-street Swindon pub after efforts to keep it trading were abandoned.
The Prince of Wales, in Old Town, had been run by a temporary management team while a search for a new owner was undertaken.
But it shut last Friday and faces an uncertain future unless a new management team is ready to take on the freehold.
The Prince of Wales has joined a list of casualties which have fallen victim to tough times for the pub trade in recent years.
They include the nearby George on Eastcott Hill which shut down in 2010.
It had been one of Swindon's oldest pubs and a campaign to save it met with failure.
Swindon’s Campaign For Real Ale branch has warned that pubs nationally are closing at a rate of 33 a week. Chairman Hans Hoffbauer has backed calls for the alcohol duty escalator to be abolished.
The Prince of Wales had been described as a back street locals’ pub in beer and cider guides.
Savills estate agents is selling the freehold for the venue in Union Street.
A spokeswoman said: “We were appointed at the end of March and are selling the freehold on behalf of Punch Taverns. We have had some interest during that time. We are offering it as a pub or alternative use.”
A team had been in the pub to keep it trading during the period while the freehold was put up for sale.
It attracted some interest, including from a landlord at another pub who wanted to specialise in real ales, but no offers have yet been made.
A member of staff at the time said the pub was kept open because it was worth more to potential buyers if it was still trading.
A spokeswoman for Punch Taverns said: “I can confirm the Prince of Wales is closed for now. We are reviewing all options for the pub’s future.”
Comments(12)
sonicated
says...
10:33am Thu 14 Jun 12
This means the cask only lasts three days, and it starts to taste oxidised after a day.
If carbon dioxide (which is produced during fermentation) is added or ale is served from kegs then this doesn't happen and the beer has a fresh shelf life of weeks and even months.
swindondad
says...
10:55am Thu 14 Jun 12
SockPuppet
says...
11:33am Thu 14 Jun 12
Pubs under management companies such as Punch have to source their beer via them and pay a premium on it.
gorsehillbear
says...
1:24pm Thu 14 Jun 12
Melgee
says...
2:28pm Thu 14 Jun 12
1.High Business Overheads.
2.Lack of customers since the smoking ban was introduced.
3.Cheap alcohol available in Supermarkets.
4.Excessive Government taxation on the price of a pint of beer.
I think you will see a few more community Pubs in Swindon go under in the next year or so.
I 2 Could B
says...
5:34pm Thu 14 Jun 12
Given that most pubs *still* haven't moved to HD sports - and most homes now have bigger/better screens than most pubs - it's not hard to see why they're struggling.
RichardR1
says...
8:37am Fri 15 Jun 12
Most struggle to pay their bills, which is why so many are closing, even charging £3. When they are gone they will not be coming back.
Always Grumpy
says...
9:08am Fri 15 Jun 12
In any case, there are far too many pubs in certain areas for them all to prosper, so it's inevitable many more are still going to close. In this economic climate and changing social habits, the writing has been on the wall for a long time
RichardR1
says...
6:01pm Fri 15 Jun 12
With Celebrity chefs like Anthony Worrel Thompson, Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver to name but three who entered the pub market and failed I don't think it's that simple.
Always Grumpy
says...
10:49am Sat 16 Jun 12
RichardR1 wrote:I don't think the three you have mentioned have any relevance whatsoever to Swindon pubs!
Always Grumpy, if I may suggest a slightly simplistic analysis.
With Celebrity chefs like Anthony Worrel Thompson, Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver to name but three who entered the pub market and failed I don't think it's that simple.
RichardR1
says...
11:12am Sat 16 Jun 12
Like any business, of course if you find a niche market you succeed, too many adopting that niche market will result in an increased failure rate, no matter how good the original idea.
Many pubs turned to food following the smoking ban to try and adapt, but they failed because the market place was alien to them, or the cost of adapting were punitive.
I fear, like many others do, we are going to be left with pub restaurants and very few traditional pubs.
I remember 45 years ago being able to drive out into the countryside with no real notion of where we were going and passing numerous busy pubs, even in the most unlikely and out of the way places. Try doing that now.
Such a shame.
Timsey says...
9:40am Thu 14 Jun 12
Unless it has some history it probably wouldn’t missed to much as it’s attached to housing