Stories

Fri, 16 Oct 2026

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 'TV and cheap booze' blamed for landlord quitting

Lincolnshire has lost 27% of its pubs and bars since 2009 and some are calling on the government to act against cheap supermarket booze.

* Former pub landlord Patrick Hughes blames a "perfect storm" of factors for his decision to quit his tenancy at The Royal Mail Cart in Spalding, including rising utility and wage prices, changing customer habits, and major roadworks outside the pub.
* Figures show that 27% of pubs and bars in Lincolnshire closed between 2009 and 2025, with a higher rate of closures in South Holland (53%) than the England average (19%).
* Patrick Hughes suggests that the low cost of alcohol in supermarkets is a major contributor to the decline of pub trade.
* The British Beer and Pub Association is calling for the 20% business rates cut for pubs to be made permanent, alongside a freeze in beer duty and a widening of the draft discount.
* Locals have formed a group to try to raise £600,000 to buy and run a closed pub in Spalding.
* The HM Treasury spokesperson says that the Chancellor has prioritized support for the hospitality industry with the 20% business rates cut.