Pubs or Houses for Sale?

Like many others in the trade I get a daily barrage of of Pubs for sale, but at least 8 out of 10 of these properties aren't commercial premises at all - they're houses. I say let them return from whence they came.

Historically the pre- 20th century Pubs largely evolved from village or small town housing stock. Someone spotted an opportunity in the early days of the industrial revolution or before and started brewing beer in their backroom; and what do you know you've got a Public house. Then they became licensed and that added value to the building. And somewhere along the line these 'Houses' with their licenses to sell alcohol became for a while at least commercial premises, in a time when the expectations of the punter and reasons and frequency of visit were a whole lot different.

It was a world where in every town and village there lived a large population of working men, a good number of whom were 'allowed' or culturally expected to be drinking in their local 5 or 6 nights a week from after tea until closing time.

As we all know that market has long died. Actually it really has long died, perhaps 30 - 40 years in some areas, less maybe in heavy industrial areas, but even those its got to be 20 now. But somehow or other the cultural ghost left behind by this market carried on in some shape or another. There are still parts of the population visiting Pubs to drink beer on a regular weekly basis but in many non urban areas that group is too small to be economically viable. The Young pre married market need 'Bars' and cafes to meet in, but their requirements and expectations are way beyond the village or community locals standard. They aren't visiting 'houses' they are using urban commercial spaces; easily refitted every few years; air conditioned; lighting controlled.

So let the houses return to housing stock, and let those Pub businesses which are large enough and have evolved into viable commercial sites thrive. Some Local authority reluctance to let 'Houses' go back to residential stock because it happens to be the last Pub in the village is actually damaging to the sector as a whole. Stronger sites are weakened at this time by the stretch on market share created by these false sites. The fact there is still a stream of well meaning amateurs queuing up to fulfill their dream of running a pub, feulled by low entry costs and somewhere to live is just simply holding back investment and risking the independent Pub restaurant sector altogether.

Let em close for God's sake