Time

Despite living beside the brewery, 300m from a pub, and really enjoying cask ale, actually visiting the pub somehow doesn't fit in with the way we live or our daily routine. We are not alone: 386 pubs closed for good in England & Wales in 2022; 383 closed for good in the first six months of 2023. That's close to 1% last year and heading for 2% this year. The reasons are hardly a secret: Covid, energy costs, interest charges, general cost inflation, Brexit-driven staff shortage, competition from cheap supermarket alcohol, ten years of falling wages for customers

But most of all, I think, a change in lifestyle: high quality home entertainment, multiple streaming channels, social media, internet communities of like minded people, the atomisation of society. The pub is no longer the default option for social interaction, picking up gossip, making friends or having a good time

When we came to the village there were four pubs; that soon became three. One of those is closing at the end of the month, with no firm future plan. This is one of the two survivors, for now. Its kitchen has closed; I'm sitting at one end of the room, the man on the left is at the other end, there are no other rooms. I wonder how long this is viable

A business rates rebate of 75% for retail, hospitality, entertainment and leisure premises, including pubs, was introduced during Covid. It is still in place, but comes to an end from April next year. For how many businesses will that be the final straw? Sober thoughts