'The future of pubs is community-owned pubs'

Landlords in Essex say community ownership is "the future of pubs."

In the last five years, 3,953 pub businesses closed while 1,624 were demolished or lost forever, according to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

But in 2020, The Railway Arms in Saffron Walden was saved by a "powerful force" of 400 local patrons.

Since then it has continued to "flourish" and recently won the East Anglian CAMRA Pub of the Year award.

Landlord Graham Pearson said: "Here, there's a palpable difference in atmosphere with the fact that these people have invested in it and it continues to grow and flourish and it's just fantastic to see."

He added: "There's a certain anti-corporate sort of feeling about it... this belongs to us."

The Railway Arms has reverted back to something resembling an "old-fashioned" pub, removing music and televisions.

"The pub itself is devoid of background anything, so it's a place where conversation can flourish," Pearson said.

"We get people from 18 to 80 here, literally, and that's terrific.

"I think the future of pubs is here. The people should come and look at this place and see what has happened here... this is the way forward and people should wake up."

He said some of the community had not previously visited the pub but did so after becoming patrons.

Ash Corbett-Collins, chairman at CAMRA, said community-run pubs can be more "flexible" to what customers want, including the beers they stock.

"You tend to see the same brands here, there and everywhere, " he said, adding that a lot of the big players dominate the market.

He wants the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to look into why pubs "can't stock what they want to stock".

Mighty Oak Brewery is a microbrewery based in Maldon and supplies the Railway Arms.

Director Gill Crawford agreed with CAMRA, and said "access" is a bigger challenge for them than demand is.

"Many pubs are locked into contracts that heavily favour the big players, which is why you see the same brands everywhere. It's not a reflection of customer choice, it's a reflection of who controls the bar," she said.

She believes the flexibility and "genuine freedom" of community-owned pubs "keeps local breweries alive".

She added: "Community‑owned freehouses are incredibly important to us. They're run by people who genuinely care about their neighbours, their town, and the character of their bar.

"When a pub is owned and shaped by its community, everyone benefits: drinkers, small brewers, and the local economy."

Meanwhile, the Chequers Inn in Roxwell, near Chelmsford, is celebrating one year of trading under community ownership.

Sam Metson, chair of the group, said it was "under real threat" of being converted into a house, until 400 people bought shares in the building.

"Effectively what it means is the pub is owned by its customers and the people in the community that love the pub," she said.

"I think most people would say a village without a pub isn't really a real village, particularly in the countryside where there's not a lot else going on."

A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade says it recognises that many pubs in communities are "facing challenges".

They said the government has committed £440,000 to help the non-profit organisation 'Pub is the Hub' to identify pub projects currently stuck in limbo due to a lack of funding.

The spokesperson added that the prime minister's announcement of 20% off the business rates would "save thousands of locals over £1,000 a year".

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