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23rd August 2012

'Publicans are just tax collectors now'.

Fifty pubs in Oxfordshire have called last orders in the past five years, with campaigners blaming beer tax rises and supermarkets for choking the trade.

An Oxfordshire pub has closed every 36 days since 2007.

Beer fans say a 42 per cent rise in beer tax has put the industry in turmoil.

Tony Goulding, pubs officer at the Oxford branch of CAMRA, said supermarkets selling cheap booze, the recession, the introduction of the smoking ban in 2007, and a change of cultural habits had all hit the industry. But he said the beer duty was a "crippling burden" for landlords. He said: "It is scandalous that we are one of the worst in the world for beer tax."

The duty escalator, which raises beer tax annually by inflation plus two per cent, started in 2009 and will run until at least 2014.

Mr Goulding added: "I think we have not reached the worst times yet. Nothing is safe."

According to CAMRA, the following North Oxfordshire pubs have closed in the last five years:

• The Woolpack, Banbury (2010)
• The Blackstock Arms, Banbury (2009)
• The Unicorn, Banbury (2008)
• The Cricketers Arms, Banbury (2009)
• The Bishop Blaize, Sibford Gower (2007)
• The Pioneer, Bicester (2009)
• The White Lion, Steeple Aston (2011)
• The George and Dragon, Fritwell (2009)
• The King's Head, Fritwell (2011)

After a lifetime working in pubs, John Bellinger quit the trade last year. The 58-year-old left The Bell Inn in Adderbury in April after six years. He is now Chairman of the North Oxfordshire branch of CAMRA and a bus driver for Oxford Bus Company.

As an 18-year-old he got his first job behind the bar at the Littlemore British Legion club. Since he has been landlord at eight pubs.

But he said he was forced to leave the trade, blaming the rise in beer tax introduced in 2009. He said: "Since that was introduced, the beer duties have increased by 42 per cent.
"Publican's are tax collectors now."

He said: "Since that was introduced, the beer duties have increased by 42 per cent. Publicans are tax collectors now."

He said that the ban on smoking in public places, including pub bars and the recession were other reasons fewer people were using their local pubs.

He added: "The traditional pub is the heart of the community. It’s where people go, not just to drink and eat, but for company and to meet up with friends.
"But people don’t have the money and they resent paying more for their beer than they did a few years ago."

White Horse CAMRA chairman Neil Crook said pubs were surviving, but the successful ones were those free from pub company leases.

He said: "Pubs need the freedom to make the choices on what beers they buy and what they pay."