Oxfordshire pubs face serious challenges ahead due to the cost of living crisis, according to a real ale campaigner.
Dave Richardson, of the Oxford branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), said although the picture was generally positive for pubs in the city and surrounding areas, major challenges were just around the corner.
Mr Richardson said pubs in the city centre itself would be less harshly affected because students would continue to spend money on beer but pubs in other areas would suffer more.
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He added: “We have only seen a handful of closures in Oxford city itself and there have been some new pubs opening, so that’s a fairly positive picture but there are definitely challenges to come.
“Students spend quite a bit on beer and cocktails and that’s not going to change but pubs in other places will soon be affected by the cost of living crisis putting a squeeze on consumer spending.
“The average pub is going to find its own costs going up and I think we are going to see a reaction later this year.
“Even British hop growers are concerned that they will hardly be able to afford to cut the crop.
“Some pubs could face a slowdown due to the cost of living crisis and some are still paying off loans and debts from the lockdowns.”
While there have been a few city centre pub closures since 2019 - The Mitre in High Street, the Eagle and Child in St Giles for a revamp, and The Grapes in George Street, there have also been openings, including the Tile Shop, a micropub in Headington, The Plough at 38 in Cornmarket, and Teardrop bar in the Covered Market.
In the South East in 2021, according to CAMRA there were with 45 permanent closures and 35 new openings - a net loss of only 10.
CAMRA chairman Nik Antona told CAMRA's Oxford Drinker magazine : “These figures show that whilst there is some encouraging news about new pubs opening in 2021, there is still a big problem with pub businesses not re-opening after the pandemic.
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“With the cost of living crisis affecting consumers, and the cost of business crisis facing our pubs, brewers and cider makers, we are really concerned that this positive news from our 2021 figures will turn into a nightmare report for 2022. Pubs are not only vital employers, but they are key to community life up and down the country - bringing people together and tackling loneliness and social isolation.
“Governments across the UK must do more to make sure pub businesses can survive the cost of business crisis, and that consumers can still support their local pubs at a time when household budgets are being squeezed.”
The Lamb & Flag pub in St Giles closed last year but is due to reopen after being taken over by a community concern.
Read again: Search for new company to run abandoned Grapes
Its reopening has been delayed a number of times but it is expected to reopen later this year.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF
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