The Bull's Head in East Sussex is about to serve its last pints By Simon Hancock BBC News Magazine Six pubs a day close in the UK. On Wednesday MPs and brewers hold a crisis summit to find a way to help struggling publicans, but it comes too late for Boreham Street, a one-pub village in Sussex about to become a no-pub village.
The Bull's Head in East Sussex is about to serve its last pints By Simon Hancock BBC News Magazine Six pubs a day close in the UK. On Wednesday MPs and brewers hold a crisis summit to find a way to help struggling publicans, but it comes too late for Boreham Street, a one-pub village in Sussex about to become a no-pub village.
"What's a village without a village pub?" asks one regular at the Bull's Head. "I wonder what will happen to the ghost?" says another. We come here every week for Sunday roast - I'm sure where we're going to go now Emma Lowe with boyfriend Mark Holman
"What's a village without a village pub?" asks one regular at the Bull's Head. "I wonder what will happen to the ghost?" says another. We come here every week for Sunday roast - I'm sure where we're going to go now Emma Lowe with boyfriend Mark Holman
There's a funereal atmosphere in the Bull's Head in Boreham Street. None of the regulars know the brewery is about to shut their pub - the only one in the village - until I pitch up to write an article about its final days.
There's a funereal atmosphere in the Bull's Head in Boreham Street. None of the regulars know the brewery is about to shut their pub - the only one in the village - until I pitch up to write an article about its final days.
I feel like a doctor breaking bad news to a patient.
I feel like a doctor breaking bad news to a patient.
They heard rumours a while back, but that's it. As they absorb the news, there's lots of forlorn staring into pints, slow shaking of heads and sharing of stories.
They heard rumours a while back, but that's it. As they absorb the news, there's lots of forlorn staring into pints, slow shaking of heads and sharing of stories.
Jo Moon's first thought is for its afterlife, and the fate of the pub's supernatural resident.
Jo Moon's first thought is for its afterlife, and the fate of the pub's supernatural resident.
"When this used to be a coaching inn, it's said that women were abused in the cellar.
"When this used to be a coaching inn, it's said that women were abused in the cellar.
"We had Ghostwatch in here once. A load of psychics and mystics were brought in and found loads of activity there. Dogs refuse to go down to the cellar. There's at least one ghost here."
"We had Ghostwatch in here once. A load of psychics and mystics were brought in and found loads of activity there. Dogs refuse to go down to the cellar. There's at least one ghost here."
Many a drinker
Many a drinker
As well as the obligatory ghost, the Bull's Head has many other hallmarks of a great British pub. It's part of what makes us who we, are the British pub. I'm really sorry to hear it's closing Bob Macey, with John Hurd
As well as the obligatory ghost, the Bull's Head has many other hallmarks of a great British pub. It's part of what makes us who we, are the British pub. I'm really sorry to hear it's closing Bob Macey, with John Hurd
The weather-boarded building has been a hostelry since the agricultural revolution in the early 18th Century.
The weather-boarded building has been a hostelry since the agricultural revolution in the early 18th Century.
The cosy wood-panelled interior is lined with illustrations of the pub through the ages, and more recent snaps showing its role in the community.
The cosy wood-panelled interior is lined with illustrations of the pub through the ages, and more recent snaps showing its role in the community.
One is of the clay pigeon shooting team - which includes pub regulars Jo, her husband Tony and friend Dennis White - and which uses the pub as its base.
One is of the clay pigeon shooting team - which includes pub regulars Jo, her husband Tony and friend Dennis White - and which uses the pub as its base.
Dennis points out the pink shirts the team wears in the photo, taken on the yearly memorial to a member who once wore a pink shirt to the pub and was ribbed mercilessly for it.
Dennis points out the pink shirts the team wears in the photo, taken on the yearly memorial to a member who once wore a pink shirt to the pub and was ribbed mercilessly for it.
The lunchtime drink is fast starting to feel like a wake. Behind the bar, assistant manager Karl pulls the odd pint of the local bitter to keep spirits up.
The lunchtime drink is fast starting to feel like a wake. Behind the bar, assistant manager Karl pulls the odd pint of the local bitter to keep spirits up.
Too many rules
Too many rules
Sadly, closing down is an all too common aspect of pub life in the UK. EXTRA COSTS Industry claims new rules force pubs out of businessCountry pubs must process own sewage - strict quality requirements require huge investment in treatment facilitiesAny pub with more than four staff must offer pension schemeBull's Head spent £20,000 on new toilet to comply with disability act, but ran into trouble with council's conservation department
Sadly, closing down is an all too common aspect of pub life in the UK. EXTRA COSTS Industry claims new rules force pubs out of businessCountry pubs must process own sewage - strict quality requirements require huge investment in treatment facilitiesAny pub with more than four staff must offer pension schemeBull's Head spent £20,000 on new toilet to comply with disability act, but ran into trouble with council's conservation department
This week sees the 2,000th pub closure of the past 12 months with the loss of 20,000 jobs, according to the Campaign for Real Ale.
This week sees the 2,000th pub closure of the past 12 months with the loss of 20,000 jobs, according to the Campaign for Real Ale.
In 2005, an average of two or three pubs closed a week. Today that toll has risen to 39. Haunted by these statistics, the pub industry on Wednesday is staging a "crisis summit" with MPs.
In 2005, an average of two or three pubs closed a week. Today that toll has risen to 39. Haunted by these statistics, the pub industry on Wednesday is staging a "crisis summit" with MPs.
"It's not a question of every pub being sacred, but pubs are closing unnecessarily," says Mark Hastings, of the British Beer and Pub Association.
"It's not a question of every pub being sacred, but pubs are closing unnecessarily," says Mark Hastings, of the British Beer and Pub Association.
At a time when the recession means more people drink at home after buying alcohol from supermarkets, brewers are putting their prices up, still feeling the effects of the inflationary rises in cereal last year, which Mr Hastings says we've all forgotten.
At a time when the recession means more people drink at home after buying alcohol from supermarkets, brewers are putting their prices up, still feeling the effects of the inflationary rises in cereal last year, which Mr Hastings says we've all forgotten.
On top of this, tax on beer is up 18% since the last budget.
On top of this, tax on beer is up 18% since the last budget.
"The cost base of this industry has increased by £520m over the last year - you either pass this on or die, but does anyone want to pass on increased costs at this point? Of course not."
"The cost base of this industry has increased by £520m over the last year - you either pass this on or die, but does anyone want to pass on increased costs at this point? Of course not."
Cheap booze
Cheap booze
At the summit, the industry will demand a reduction in tax and an easing of the regulation they say throttles pubs across the country. PUB IS THE HUB Name of charity which helps save village pubs by diversifying their activitiesProjects include adding post office or village shop to the pub, or using kitchen to cook school mealsCosts split between councils and brewers or licensee
At the summit, the industry will demand a reduction in tax and an easing of the regulation they say throttles pubs across the country. PUB IS THE HUB Name of charity which helps save village pubs by diversifyingProjects include adding post office or village shop to the pub, or using kitchen to cook school mealsCosts split between councils and brewers or licensee
The Bull's Head was the first pub brewer Harveys bought when it became a limited company in the 1920s.
The Bull's Head was the first pub brewer Harveys bought when it became a limited company in the 1920s.
Joint managing director Hamish Elder points out that closure is a last resort. He still holds out some hope that someone might buy it at the eleventh hour.
Joint managing director Hamish Elder points out that closure is a last resort. He still holds out some hope that someone might buy it at the eleventh hour.
"The pub's been struggling for a few years now," he says.
"The pub's been struggling for a few years now," he says.
"We have to decorate every five years, and each time we do, it costs three years income - that's income, not profit."
"We have to decorate every five years, and each time we do, it costs three years income - that's income, not profit."
It is regulation rather than tax which has caused the Bull's Head the most problems, he says.
It is regulation rather than tax which has caused the Bull's Head the most problems, he says.
As an isolated country pub off the main sewerage line, it has had to install ever more sophisticated treatment facilities to meet ever higher demands for the purity of effluent it is permitted to pump to the treatment works. Everyone says it's a nice pub to drink in, but then they don't turn up Dennis White
As an isolated country pub off the main sewerage line, it has had to install ever more sophisticated treatment facilities to meet ever higher demands for the purity of effluent it is permitted to pump to the treatment works. Everyone says it's a nice pub to drink in, but then they don't turn up Dennis White
This only affects country pubs. And there are many other rules the small business has to comply with, all coming at a cost for a pub which only serves a handful of locals.
This only affects country pubs. And there are many other rules the small business has to comply with, all coming at a cost for a pub which only serves a handful of locals.
"So many British institutions will disappear because of all this legislation," he says.
"So many British institutions will disappear because of all this legislation," he says.
It's not that he disagrees with the principles behind the laws - facilities for the disabled, for instance - but these are applied to small pubs without any thought for the consequences.
It's not that he disagrees with the principles behind the laws - facilities for the disabled, for instance - but these are applied to small pubs without any thought for the consequences.
"Pubs have been adapting for the past 1,000 years, but to adapt as much as we've had to over the past few years is asking too much of what is, after all, a mini crucible for the local economy."
"Pubs have been adapting for the past 1,000 years, but to adapt as much as we've had to over the past few years is asking too much of what is, after all, a mini crucible for the local economy."
What would help is to introduce a minimum price for supermarket booze, he says, as it is sold too cheaply for pubs to compete.
What would help is to introduce a minimum price for supermarket booze, he says, as it is sold too cheaply for pubs to compete.
Half empty
Half empty
However successful the summit, it will be too late for the Bull's Head. Dogs refuse to go down to the cellar. There's at least one ghost here Jo Moon, second from left
However successful the summit, it will be too late for the Bull's Head. Dogs refuse to go down to the cellar. There's at least one ghost here Jo Moon, second from left
Most likely, the main focal point of Boreham Street's life will be converted into a house.
Most likely, the main focal point of Boreham Street's life will be converted into a house.
At the pub, the mourning continues: "It'll be like cutting my right arm off," reflects Dennis.
At the pub, the mourning continues: "It'll be like cutting my right arm off," reflects Dennis.
"I'll have to drive five miles to the nearest pub. I only moved here because of the Bull's Head."
"I'll have to drive five miles to the nearest pub. I only moved here because of the Bull's Head."
But as the regulars continue to brainstorm ways of saving it, one of the problems is obvious. There are only seven regulars here.
But as the regulars continue to brainstorm ways of saving it, one of the problems is obvious. There are only seven regulars here.
"Everyone says it's a nice pub to drink in, but then they don't turn up," says Dennis.
"Everyone says it's a nice pub to drink in, but then they don't turn up," says Dennis.
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