Pubs continue to close. To survive, they are shrinking.
The British pub has been in decline for as long as the most cultured pubgoer can remember. Latest ONS figures quote less than 39,000 pubs remain.
To survive, pubs are rejuvenating themselves and turning to Kent for inspiration. The Butcher’s Arms, in Herne, was once a butcher's serving a small village just outside Canterbury. Still boasting the original chopping tables, it is now an award-winning business and can proudly call itself Britain’s first micropub.
Owner Martyn Hillier (left) stripped it to the foundations – a single room without televisions and music, instead encouraging conversation and companionship. Micropubs have thrived on their willingness to embrace the increasingly popular craft ale – swapping Fosters and Kronenbourg for local ales.
Martyn says: “We only sell ales, no lager. I’ve got six different ales which change regularly, one white wine, one red, and some soft drinks. Customers tell me what they want to drink.”
The Butcher’s Arms could not be further from a modern pub. 12 seats all facing each other, and standing room for a further 15, the compact drinking area ensures lively discussion and light-hearted banter.
When Martyn founded the Butcher’s Arms in 2006, it was the only micropub until 2009, when he spoke at a CAMRA conference. Now, there are more than 600 of these intimate venues.
Dennis McDonald regularly visits Martyn’s micropub. He says: “I avoid normal pubs like the plague. The community we’ve got here is second to none. Martyn has 60 or 70 regulars. We regularly go on trips and days out together.”
One thing’s certain – to survive, pubs need to shrink. They must follow the micropub and focus on the basics. If not, it might be last orders for the British pub.
To see a detailed analysis on the decline of the British pub, click here.
Comentários