Maldon district: Rural pubs bucking the national trend (From Gazette)

Maldon district: Rural pubs bucking the national trend

12:30pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Maldon By Ryan Jennings

RURAL pubs around the district are bucking the national trend, and flourishing.

Just one pub has been hit by the credit crunch in recent years and Robert Longley, chairman of the Maldon and Dengie branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, says he is looking forward to a promising future for the district’s pubs.

“In truth the area has shown itself to be remarkably resilient,” said Mr Longley.

“Part of that I think is that so many of the pubs here are part of the Gray and Sons brewery, which is very fair to publicans.

“They always have kept their rents on the pubs realistic, which helps the bottom line a lot, which is really what counts.”

The district’s drinkers have also bucked the national by continuing to use their local.

“From our point of view, for pubs to work out they need people to go to them and have a drink and that is something the people around the Maldon district have done to help as there is still that tradition to go to your local for a drink once, twice or maybe a few times a week.”

Mr Longley also paid tribute to the district’s breweries: “When you look at Farmers, Wibblers, Crouch Vale and the Mighty Oak, then it always helps to be able to offer wonderful local beers to people.”

Jim Morton, who co-runs the Queen’s Head, in Providence, Burnham, included in last year’s CAMRA Beer Guide, echoed Mr Longley’s thoughts.

“In truth we are flourishing and it is not just because of one thing, there are a lot of little things which help,” he said.

“Getting into the guide was great but I wouldn’t put our success down solely to that.

“It’s about how you serve the drinking public when they come; they might have visited us because we’re in the guide but they won’t come back if they don’t like it here.”

The pub has four taps, including two permanent beers and two which are changed almost of a weekly basis.

Paul Guppy, who is a founder member of The Norton pub, in Latchingdon Road, Cold Norton, said: “We’re doing well but it is tough, it is very hard work.

“In the first instance you have got to concentrate on selling good beer and having a wide selection and quality wine and spirits.

“It is not just enough to open the doors everyday, you have got to keep the interest up with things like live music and quiz nights.

“There is now a challenge to become the heart of the village and it is up to pubs to take that on.”