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Pub Guide

Opening Times

Issue 132 Autumn 2007

Download a copy of Opening Times 132 as a PDF file - 1.2 MB

WETHERSPOONS FOR ST NEOTS?

Pub chain Wetherspoons may be trading in St Neots by October 2008. The former post office in New Street will become the first Wetherspoons in Huntingdonshire if planning permission is granted. The 650-strong pub company has applied for planning permission for change of use of the building, which has been empty since the post office closed last year.

Wetherspoons has always divided opinion within CAMRA. Undoubtedly their outlets please many consumers by offering cheap food and drink, including real ales of high quality at competitive prices. Many are also happy with their music-free emphasis on drinking and eating and family restaurant style whilst others prefer the more ‘pubby’ style and the individuality of catering and beer selection in traditional town pubs.

Undeniably, though, the move of operators of chains of large pubs into small towns seems to pose a big threat to existing pubs in view of their small numbers. The centre of St Neots has only a dozen or so pubs to share any hits in trade – and three have already closed since the year 2000.

The pub trade is in decline for a number of reasons and the viability of smaller pubs is often in question, even when they provide an excellent and diverse service to their community.

The threat from large new pubs is compounded by the fact that most new openings are not takeovers of existing pubs, but are in buildings not previously used as pubs.

Before allowing new pub developments CAMRA would like to see planning authorities take into account the scale of proposals, their economic threat to the integral part of the community’s historical heritage and social focus represented by existing pubs and the desirability of retaining the community amenities that they provide in different parts of small towns.

The sheer scale of the licensed space in large pubs can bring a level of competition that results in a loss of diversity in local facilities. It is possible to draw a parallel with large supermarket developments and the demise of community-provided high street specialist facilities such as butchers, bakers and greengrocers.

In St Neots the viability of a number of town pubs is currently thought to be marginal, although experience shows that good, enthusiastic publicans can change the fortunes of such pubs.