Balance, the regional alcohol group for the North East, has carried out a Survey of North East Publicans [pdf] to explore business, trends and policy issues affecting publicans.
A total of 244 pubs and clubs in the North East of England took part in the survey. Key findings include:
- More than one in two pubs and clubs in the North East experienced a decline in business performance in the last year (56%); two fifths (38%) predict further decline in trade over the next twelve months.
- 72% say customers come in later after drinking at home.
- 88% of pubs and clubs say supermarket price promotions have adversely affected their trade.
- Supermarket pricing encourages drinks price promotions in the pub trade, 51% offer drinks promotions to counteract supermarket price cuts.
- Legislation to help address cheap supermarket pricing would be welcomed by 72% of publicans
- 81% of publicans support the introduction of a minimum price per unit of alcohol in the North East
- Publicans would welcome more consultation and engagement with councils and trading standards bodies.
- A majority favoured a return to fixed closing times (61%) whilst 39% felt 24 hour drinking was a good thing and should be retained.
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