The booming business of boozers

The latest national statistics have shown that on average, 39 pubs close every week in Britain. Try telling that to the Welshpool area!

Cheap supermarket booze, the smoking ban and a sharp economic downturn are to blame as pubs struggle to pull in the punters to make ends meet.

But Welshpool seems to have broken the norm as pubs have come back from the dead over the past six months, not to mention the town now being on the JD Wetherspoon radar. Now, one of the area’s oldest watering holes is also set to reopen in December.

The Mermaid and the Green Dragon have both enjoyed bustling trade since reopening their doors over the past few months, and the Kings Head, Guilsfield, will ensure Wales’s largest village will be served by two pubs once again.

“It’s going to be a case of giving the customer what they want and that is a good clean pub with competitive prices and a relaxed family atmosphere,” said Richard Griffiths, a local lad who has taken on a freehold lease of the 200 year-old pub with his wife (pictured). “The pub trade has struggled everywhere. I have been involved with it for several years and have seen how tough it is, but that does not mean that there is not an opportunity.

“A village the size of Guilsfield deserves two good pubs and we are looking forward to opening next month and welcoming people back to the Kings Head.”

Mr. Griffiths will be launching with a weekend entertainment spectacular from December 3 and says that pubs need to be more flexible these days in order to make ends meet.

“It is important to be attractive to all people from all walks of life,” he said. “You cannot be reliant on regulars coming in for a few pints each day because the overheads are considerable. We want to welcome back families, parties, tourists as well as the regulars who will benefit from food and beer at very competitive prices.”

Meanwhile, 100 yards up the road, the Oak Guilsfield is seeking a new landlord after advertising this week on prominent trade web sites. The tenancy is believed to be up by Easter 2011 and the details are contained here: http://www.caterer.com/JobSeeking/Pub--Restaurant--Licensee--Tenant--Landlord--Business-Opportunity_job49073532