Links and News
This page holds useful links that may be of use to visitors and reports on other general news items related to Community Pubs.
Useful Links
News
Unfortunately, the UK pub industry is facing a challenging time, with a significant number of pubs closing their doors each week. According to recent reports, around 29 pubs are closing every week in the UK. This is a worrying trend driven by various factors, including:
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Rising energy bills, increased costs for supplies, and inflation are making it difficult for pubs to remain profitable.
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People are drinking less alcohol overall, and younger generations are less likely to frequent pubs compared to previous generations.
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Supermarkets offer cheaper alcohol, which can draw customers away from pubs.
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People have more entertainment options available, and pubs may struggle to compete with other leisure activities.
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However, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of community-owned pubs.
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Local residents have a vested interest in seeing their community pub thrive, leading to increased patronage and loyalty.
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Community members often volunteer their time to help with various tasks, reducing staffing costs and fostering a sense of ownership.
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Community-owned pubs are more likely to cater to the specific needs and preferences of their local community.
Gas Safety
A gas safety inspection was carried out at the Trawden Arms pub by Roger Whalley Ltd on 06.09.2023. The inspection covered a gas boiler in the basement, a gas fire in the dining room, and a commercial cooker in the kitchen.
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Several issues were identified during the inspection. These included unsupported gas pipework, a lack of identification markings on the pipework, and pipework passing through walls without adequate sleeving for protection. The gas pipework was also found to be undersized. The boiler's twin wall flue showed signs of corrosion, and the flue system itself was incorrectly installed.
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Additional problems were noted with the gas fire. The pipework was sleeved with a hose pipe, which is not an approved method, and was also undersized. It required upsizing and additional brackets. Furthermore, the pipework was unprotected where it passed through the wall behind the fire. The commercial oven's pipework was also found to be undersized.
The report recommended several remedial actions, including resizing and upgrading the gas pipework in the basement, installing a new twin wall section to the boiler flue, and repiping the gas fire. It also advised that all appliances be serviced and commissioned once the remedial work was complete.
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The commercial gas cooker was not inspected or serviced as part of this report. The recommendation was to have a commercial catering service engineer inspect and service this appliance separately. The gas interlock and solenoid valve in the kitchen were tested and found to be working correctly.
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Remedial work was estimated at £2,789.00, excluding VAT.
Roof Inspection
July 2023
Trawden Arms Roof Inspection Report
A visual inspection of the roof of the Trawden Arms was carried out using a drone. The inspection was prompted by reports of leaks, which were visually confirmed on the ceilings at the rear and front left gable wall of the building.
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The inspection revealed several issues:
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Large sections of mortar missing from the copings on the rear of the building.
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A redundant chimney in a poor location, with a perished lead valley and broken slates.
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Broken and slipped slates on the rear elevation, and mortar dropping out from the ridges.
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Perished lead flashings on the gable end, with inadequate height between the slates and copings.
Recommendations
The report recommended several repairs, including re-bedding the ridges, re-roofing the section to the left of the valley, repairing the lead valley, replacing the lead flashings, and lowering the chimney.
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Costs
The estimated costs for the repairs is £8,476.30, excluding VAT.
The report noted that these were minimum estimates, and additional repairs might be necessary. The total cost to re-roof the entire building was estimated at £22,650.00 + VAT.