TWO Oxford pubs were given the chance to sound off over higher rents and beer prices when a top Conservative politician dropped in yesterday.
Jeremy Hunt, the MP for South West Surrey and the Tories' shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport, visited the Rose and Crown and Gardeners Arms pubs, in North Parade Avenue, off Banbury Road, to speak to residents and landlords about the problems facing smaller local pubs.
Mr Hunt said the Government needed to increase tax on alcopops and build up relationships with councils in a bid to prevent pub closures.
He said: "The message we're getting is pubs are like post offices. They're important to communities.
"We need more sensible policies, rather than rushing through measures which punish ordinary drinkers."
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