Pubs worth £120k to rural communities

Pubs are often regarded as central to village life, but now researchers have estimated local watering holes are worth up to £120,000 a year to rural communities.

Rural pubs are estimated to be worth up to £120,000 to local communities

Dr Ignazio Cabras, an economist based in Northumbria University and University of York, conducted an 18-month academic study looked at 2,769 parishes and focused on pubs in rural communities or parishes with fewer than 3,000 people.

The research, carried out in association with Leeds University Business School, found that pubs provide irreplaceable economic and social benefits to communities.

Dr Cabras – who was awarded a £7,700 grant to travel to various community pubs throughout the UK – discovered the value of a pub to a rural community ranged between £80,000 and £120,000.

The value encompassed business connections, including sourcing local food and drink, plus job opportunities for local people.

Furthermore, Dr Cabras reported in several areas, pubs had evolved into a replacement for the local post office, village shop or other services that may have ceased operating.

“There are now just 49,000 pubs in Britain today, compared with 69,000 in 1980, as public houses all over the country are hit by factors deterring visitors including a general reduction in customer spending and more competitive alcohol prices in off-licence retailers,” said Dr Cabras.

“In rural areas, this decline has been exacerbated by smaller populations and fewer opportunities in terms of public transport, which make these areas less attractive compared to urban areas from business perspective.

“However, it appears that the pub has increased its importance as the main hub in a community’s infrastructure, offering support to a wide range of activities. Pubs function as physical incubators, which foster engagement and involvement among the community, as well as creating jobs for local people and local suppliers.

“The closure of rural pubs is strongly associated with the decline of social drinking and increasing levels of alcohol consumption in private premises. It is vital the government supports rural pubs with appropriate policies to ensure our rural way of life is maintained.”

In June, research showed consumers are spending less money in pubs and bars, opting for home consumption instead.