Rillington pubs’ plight in spotlight (From Gazette & Herald)

Plight of Coach and Horses pub in Rillington put in spotlight

3:30pm Wednesday 16th January 2013 in News By Karen Darley

THE plight of struggling village pubs is to come under the spotlight of a key Government committee being chaired by Ryedale MP, Anne McIntosh.

Last Tuesday, the Coach and Horses in Rillington closed its doors with a number of other pubs in the area already on the market, including the Bay Horse in Terrington.

Ms McIntosh made a fact-finding visit to The Moors Inn at Appleton-le-Moors last Saturday as part of National Pub Week.

She said: “Pubs play a crucial role in the local community as they are generally the focal point of the village and the surrounding area.

“Pubs provide a local meeting and socialising point, employment to local residents and attract tourists.

“It is vital to support local businesses, including pubs, in rural areas, to sustain the economy and enable residents and tourists to enjoy everything that the local area has to offer.”

She said that the Defra committee she chairs at Westminster will be looking at issues facing rural communities, including the current controversial cuts in Government funding to local authorities.

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has welcomed the Government’s announcement on what it described as “unfair large pub company leases”.

Mike Benner, CAMRA chief executive, said: “The move will safeguard the future of many thousands of community pubs.”

He added that 3,500 tied public houses have been lost in the past three years.

“Many have been lost as a result of excessive rents and by being forced to buy beer at up to 50 per cent above market rates,” he said.

“The proposal for a fair dealing provision will allow publicans tied to large pub companies to challenge these high prices, which means fewer pubs will be forced to close their doors.”

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