The British Pub - A Heritage in Transition

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Acknowledgement

I would like to take this chance for thanking my research facilitator, friends & family for support they provided & their belief in me as well as guidance they provided without which I would have never been able to do this research.

DECLARATION

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this thesis/dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this thesis/dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university.

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Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of The British Pubs in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on The British Pub and its relation with the Licensing Act 2003. The research also analyzes many aspects of the decline of the pub industry and tries to gauge its effect on beverage industry. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for the decline of pub industry.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background1

Research Aims and Objectives3

Research Question3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW5

Evolution of Pub Industry5

The Licensing Act 200311

Pub Industry Decline13

Impact of Pub Industry Decline21

Industry Analysis28

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY42

Research Design42

Search Technique42

Literature Search43

Search terms - key terms44

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS45

Changes in ownership45

The Pub Retailing Market47

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION59

Down …But Not Out59

End of an Era60

REFERENCES61

Chapter 1: Introduction

Background

The history of British pubs dates back over 300 years well before the Beer Act 1830 was introduced. For centuries it has been providing a venue for socializing for the local residents and business communities, and for tourists who might be curious about the British pub culture. Further British beers are renowned worldwide for their unique tastes. There has been a distinct increase in British beer drinkers who believe the best taste of beer comes when it is served from the pump.

The British pubs and bars have taken a hammering in recent times. The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) reported that as many as 52 pubs were closing each week. The “perfect storm” describes the combination of high rents, beer ties, recession, and supermarket pricing of alcohol, the smoking ban and the change in drinking habits that has conspired against the industry to force this unprecedented rate of closures. (Hollensen, 2009, pp. 85-99) Many analysts believe the sector's problems actually stem from the corporate structure of the large pubcos and the way they are funded. (Eley, 2009, 6)

There were many small independent family managed pubs and bars bought by pub chains such as Fuller's and Greene King who turned them into gastro-pubs following the introduction of smoking ban. These organisations are mainly operating for the protection of shareholders' interest i.e. maximisation of dividend payment. Consequently, destroying the spirit of free enterprise of the British economy and many workers lost their jobs in this very competitive employment market  (Jackson 2009, p. 260).

The local tavern comprised of either a dairy cheese roll or a ham roll, nourishment that was actually conceived to manage nothing less than soak ...