New report highlights vital social role of community pubs

19th May 2009, 9:37am

MPs have been presented with a new report which highlights the importance of pubs to society and calls for urgent action to avert the closure of 40 pubs a week.

The report was produced by think tank, ippr, Institute for Public Policy Research, with the support of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale.

The ippr report includes a pioneering new method of calculating the social and economic benefit generated by well-run community pubs and finds that pubs are:

- the most popular place where people can mix socially with others from different backgrounds 

- a great supporter of charity, with over £3,000 raised per pub every year 

- outside of the home the most popular place for people to meet their neighbours 

- a place for people to make new friends- more than one in five pub goers has made a new friend in a pub in the past six months. 

Rick Muir, senior research fellow, ippr said: "Government must stop using a one size fits all approach to licensed premises which is killing off our community pubs. Well-run community pubs should be encouraged and supported rather than penalised along with the small number of badly run pubs. Community pubs are not just places to drink but also places where people meet their neighbours; make new friends; and where local clubs hold meetings and events."

Mike Benner, CAMRA chief executive: "At a time of unprecedented pub closures, this report will help Local Councils and National Government recognise the importance of well-run pubs to strong communities and thriving local economies. Well-run community pubs not only provide a safe and relaxed environment for people to enjoy a drink but they also form the bedrock of community life and people's social networks. Virtual networking sites such as Facebook and My Space will never be able to replace the experience of socialising in person in the Great British Pub."

Related Articles:

• 28 Jul 2009 - CAMRA launches petition to save historic pub
• 23 Jul 2009 - CAMRA declares National Pub Design Awards open

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