‘We’re all in this together and we will survive’ was the shared feeling of more than 40 pub and hospitality owners from across the Stroud district after meeting at Stroud Brewery on Tuesday for a critical Publicans Budget Response Meeting, writes Oisín Hayden Burrell.
The urgent gathering was prompted by the Government’s recent Budget, which many felt was the final blow to a sector already losing one pub daily due to intense financial strain. Increases in minimum wage, alcohol duty, and the prospect of massive rises, even a doubling, in business rates flowing out of the Budget announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on November 26th have intensified pressures stemming from high energy prices and last year’s fiscal policies. Plus, the Budget’s failure to bring the cost of supermarket alcohol closer to that in pubs risks keeping more customers drinking at home. Many pub and hospitality businesses already operate on wafer-thin margins of one per cent or less.
Despite sacrificing precious operating hours to attend, the mood was one of positive solidarity. Attendees discussed a range of ideas, including:
- Establishing a purchasing co-operative to leverage collective buying power.
- Creating a staff-sharing network to cover shortages.
- Developing joint campaigns to promote pubs’ vital role in their communities.
- Organising ‘support your pub’ events and a joint working ‘hub’.
This collaborative spirit marks a determined effort by local businesses to build a resilient sector independent of government support.
“I was delighted at the real sense of solidarity which emerged from us all getting together.” Said Greg Pilley, MD of Stroud Brewery who organised and hosted the event.
“So many great ideas came out of the meeting, and people went away feeling supported and ready to work together to survive. This meeting was the first step in building a resilient sector which protects itself from future Budget and financial shocks. I’m keen for us to direct our joint purchasing power into local suppliers and keep money in Stroud so it doesn’t disappear out of the area or even out of the country.”
Christo Archer, who runs Waterloo House in Nailsworth, feels the sector can’t depend on the Government. “I don’t think it’s interested in helping us, so we have to look to ourselves to find the answers. Thanks to this meeting, we’ve been able to meet in person and put names to faces to help us work together better and move forward as a group. I don’t want Waterloo House to be the only pub in Nailsworth because the more choice there is, the more people will come into the town.”
Kate and Tom of The Old Crown at Uley liked many of the ideas suggested. “Throwing a spotlight on all the different pubs is a great idea as we all offer something different, and promoting our local pubs will encourage people to use us. I also like the idea of forming a co-operative so we can use our purchasing power collectively. We don’t have a local lobbying group looking out for our best interests so a co-operative could at least help us with our operating costs.”
Ellie Sainty of The Old Spot in Dursley believes the real role of pubs isn’t fully understood by decision makers: “We’re confidants, entertainers, companions, chefs, and even councillors but the decision-makers seem to view us as a small, insignificant service. We make minimal profit already, but we do this work because we want to keep people connected and to help our community. This meeting has been great and I’d like to see more so that we can keep talking and supporting each other to find solutions.”
Helen Payne of Williams in Nailsworth, said this is the first year that the restaurant hasn’t done better than their delicatessen. “Things are really tough financially for us and the business rate increases are the final pressure on the sector. The Government is shooting itself in the foot as it’ll lose tax because of hospitality venues closing down plus there’ll be more people unemployed and getting benefits. But thanks to this meeting, we’re feeling we’re all in this together and will help each other. I’m interested in the idea of seeing if we can share staff to help a venue when it’s got staff shortages and I can’t offer extra hours to my staff.”
Sarah Watts and Mark Payne of The Bell at Selsley feel that hospitality is constantly taking a significant financial hit in Governmental budgets: “We’re constantly juggling everything that needs to be done to run your own business whilst trying to stay optimistic, we have to do everything, we don’t have a lot of staff to do it for us. A significant problem is that hospitality isn’t taken seriously as a profession unlike on the continent. That needs to change.”
Wes Birch, landlord of The Ship Inn, felt upbeat about what came out of the meeting. “Everyone knows the negative facts and the doom and gloom, but we’ve come together today and started to create a great plan for how to survive. We’re a strong community and I know we can find the solutions together. Hopefully, we can all enjoy our Christmases more now!”
Pictures by Matt Bigwood
