Pub crunch

Brian Minns, 50, said the two factors had led to a dramatic downturn in business, making it impossible for him to keep the Cavalier pub, in Copse Lane, Northway, open.

The former landlord said since the smoking ban was introduced in July last year, business had dropped by 55 per cent, compared with the same period the year before.

He said: "I was trying as hard as I could to make it successful, but nothing was working. It was the Saturday before I decided to go bankrupt when I realised I had to close the pub.

"I had arranged for a live band to come into the pub from noon until midnight and only 11 people came into the pub the whole day.

"I must have been £20,000 down in just a year — probably more than that — and the brewery had put my rent up.

"The smoking ban didn't help and with the credit crunch, people just can't afford to come out any more.

"There is no way with this Government and its stupid policies the pub industry is going to survive."

The Oxford Mail reported in February this year that Mr Minns had been worried about the future of the pub, after he put a sign outside which read: "Use us or lose us. Pub or flats, your choice — support your local".

He said: "I always said if you want a no-smoking pub, get two bars."

Mr Minns said supermarkets were having a huge impact on the pub trade.

He said: "At one supermarket you can buy beer for as little as 20p per bottle and they deliver it to your home so you don't even have to leave the house."

Mr Minns said he had struggled with depression since declaring bankruptcy and closing the pub at the beginning of August. He is still living there until owner Punch Taverns finds another tenant.

The company said it had no plans to sell the site and wanted to reopen the pub as soon as possible, but could not confirm when.

A spokesman added: "Our regional team is actively recruiting a new licensee to run this great pub and is in discussions with a number of interested parties."