It's been said for years now that breweries are killing the pubs. They've bled them dry for short term gains for years with no thought to the longer term, and without gIving a second thought to the social impact of their business plans.
Our own village had several pubs 15-20 years ago. Now there's one. How many villages across England can say the same? Hundreds probably!
I've no idea what the brewery charges the landlord per barrel, but I'm betting they probably charge at least £30-£40 a barrel more than would be available to the landlord at any wholesalers. That might be £180- £250 a week to the landlord, a grand a month, maybe a lot more.
If a landlord can buy the beer that much cheaper than the brewery is charging him/her, but isn't allowed to, how is he supposed to survive?
And if the last pub in the village closes, what then?
That's all my own speculation, but I'm guessing I'm not that far out!
I was on the committee of a local club a few years ago before I moved. I know the power of the brewery. Local pubs and restaurants are the heart of hundreds of villages and small towns but the breweries seem to be systematically reducing their numbers and in so doing destroying the heart our communities everywhere.