Home   Advice   News   Links   Community Pubs Foundation News Pub Closed Forever Everyday! Community Pubs Foundation Launched to Save Britain’s Pubs Press Conference Launch of the Community Pubs Foundation. 11.30 am, Tuesday 2nd August, Great British Beer Festival, London Olympia. Issued: Monday 1st August 2005 CAMRA, The Campaign for Real Ale has published research that shows 26 pubs every month are being closed forever. That is more than one pub every weekday. In response to these startling findings, the Community Pubs Foundation has been launched to help communities save their locals. CAMRA surveyed Local Authorities to discover how many pubs in their areas were being lost. The startling result was that 26 pubs a month are being demolished or converted to houses, restaurants, shops and offices. Across the country 438 pubs remained closed with an uncertain future. The Community Pubs Foundation will provide support for local communities fighting to save their local from being demolished, turned into houses or any other use. The Foundation will provide advice, information and small grants to local communities. The 45,000 visitors to the Great British Beer Festival being held in London Olympia this week are being asked to make a donation to the Community Pubs Foundation. Online donations can be made at www.communitypubs.org. Key Facts: 26 pubs closed forever every month 8 out of 10 pubs closed forever are demolished or converted into houses Only 12% of those who visit pubs prefer town centre themed pubs 84% of those who visit pubs prefer a country pub or a community local 69% of all adults agree that pubs play an important role in community life Mike Benner, Chief Executive, CAMRA said, In 2000 we said that up to 20 pubs a month were being closed, this has increased to 26 pubs a month and 438 closed pubs are at threat right now. Urgent action is needed, this is why we have set up the Community Pubs Foundation to help communities save their locals. The pub provides a place for local groups to meet and a safe environment for friends and family to relax and enjoy each others company. The loss of a valued community pub will have a negative impact on the local economy, community and tourism. 69% of people recognise the important role pubs play in community life. The Community Pubs Foundation will work with communities whose locals are under threat. We ask those who are seeking to demolish a pub or convert a pub for financial gain to pause and spare a thought for the effect this will have on the local community.” LONDON CASE STUDIES A pub saved by the community The Pineapple, 51 Leverton Street, Kentish Town, London In October 2001 the licensee of the Pineapple Seán Gately died and his widow sold the property to a developer on the understanding that the ground floor would remain as a pub with the residential part above being converted to flats for resale. Within days an application for change of use had been lodged with Camden Council to change the whole of the building into three maisonettes, a flat and a two story office, (and of course no pub). An action group was formed to stop the change of use application going through. With a very tight deadline they needed to get the campaign up and running immediately. One of the people intimately involved was Gill Scott –a local designer. They enlisted the support of Mayor Ken Livingstone, local MP Frank Dobson, and local residents such as journalist Jon Snow. The Campaign persuaded the local council to refuse change of use permission and this led the developers Crozier Properties Ltd to realise that they would have a very hard struggle to achieve change of use if at al. So the pub was put up for auction hoping that they would get a higher price than they originally paid. Shortly before the auction was due to take place the pub was sold in April 2002 to someone who wanted to run it as a pub. The pub is now open and trading. A pub under threat of closure Radnor Arms, Warwick Road, W14 020 7602 7708 On the doorstep of the Great British Beer Festival at Olympia, this pub has been standing since 1862 and is under serious threat of demolition. The community has set up a campaign to save their local and over 800 have signed a petition. It’s a fairly small and charming community pub serving Everards beers. CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Rd, St Albans, Herts, AL1 4LW www.camra.org.uk For more information: Festival Press Office - 020 7598 6522 Tony Jerome (Press Manager) - 07726948186 Mike Benner (Chief Executive) - 07971591224 Louise Ashworth (Head of Marketing) - 07971591224 Jonathan Mail (Head of Public Affairs) - 07720 724733 www.communitypubs.org             Community Pubs Foundation 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 4LW Tel: 01727 867201     Fax: 01727 867670 Email: communitypubs@camra.org.uk A non profit making Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales: 5463393