Is this why business is screwed in the UK?

Is this why business is screwed in the UK?

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Discussion

johnfm

Original Poster:

13,695 posts

265 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
Surely, this can't be how to encourage business and generate employment:


Wetherspoons:

"Tim Martin, the chairman, said the high level of tax being levied on the trade was “contributing to the closure of pubs in record numbers”.

He said each of Wetherspoon’s pubs generated average taxes of £530,000 but earned only £50,000 in after-tax profits."



from here:

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/ind...

anonymous-user

69 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
tax tax tax tax tax tax.

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

232 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
They choose to sell the beer at the margins they do. It's hardly a secret that a large portion of their stock sales are direct taxation, either.

vxr8mate

1,683 posts

204 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
I spoke to a licencee only 2 days who resigned his lease on his pub - reason Punch wanted to put another £1500 on the rent! All this talk of taxation is a bit of a smoke screen to hide the costs being past on to Landlords, by the likes of Punch and Weatherspoons IMO.

Eric Mc

123,929 posts

280 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
I would suggest that large chains like Wetherspoons have done more to damage the traditional pub in England than the government.

anonymous-user

69 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
I would suggest that large chains like Wetherspoons have done more to damage the traditional pub in England than the government.
How? By suppling drink people can afford? £1.85 a pint or £3.60(which is a bloody piss take for a country side pub in Shropshire IMO), not a hard choice.

chris.mapey

4,778 posts

282 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
I would suggest that large chains like Wetherspoons have done more to damage the traditional pub in England than the government.
Agree wholeheartedly. They have ruined many a town centre.

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT PRICE...

I want a bit of "character" from my boozer, not one full of social misfits drinking whatever is on offer instead of buying deodorant...

Don't even get me started on the food. How does anyone seriously think that two curries for £5 is going to be good food (or even good value)

It's very sad to see shortdated beer being sold for £1 a pint near other pubs that stock decent dated beer and are having to pay £2 per pint for it, before their mark-up.

G_T

16,163 posts

205 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
Dave_ST220 said:
Eric Mc said:
I would suggest that large chains like Wetherspoons have done more to damage the traditional pub in England than the government.
How? By suppling drink people can afford? £1.85 a pint or £3.60(which is a bloody piss take for a country side pub in Shropshire IMO), not a hard choice.
I'm with Eric on this one as well I'm afraid.

If your local butcher's closes down who do you blame? The government or the ASDA that was built around the corner?


DamoLLb

1,775 posts

210 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
Dave_ST220 said:
Eric Mc said:
I would suggest that large chains like Wetherspoons have done more to damage the traditional pub in England than the government.
How? By suppling drink people can afford? £1.85 a pint or £3.60(which is a bloody piss take for a country side pub in Shropshire IMO), not a hard choice.
thats just it. It wouldnt be £3.60 a pint if more people drank in a 'local'

phil1979

3,629 posts

230 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
DamoLLb said:
Dave_ST220 said:
Eric Mc said:
I would suggest that large chains like Wetherspoons have done more to damage the traditional pub in England than the government.
How? By suppling drink people can afford? £1.85 a pint or £3.60(which is a bloody piss take for a country side pub in Shropshire IMO), not a hard choice.
thats just it. It wouldnt be £3.60 a pint if more people drank in a 'local'
My arse. There are loads of local pubs round my way, but most of them take the piss.

anonymous-user

69 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
phil1979 said:
DamoLLb said:
Dave_ST220 said:
Eric Mc said:
I would suggest that large chains like Wetherspoons have done more to damage the traditional pub in England than the government.
How? By suppling drink people can afford? £1.85 a pint or £3.60(which is a bloody piss take for a country side pub in Shropshire IMO), not a hard choice.
thats just it. It wouldnt be £3.60 a pint if more people drank in a 'local'
My arse. There are loads of local pubs round my way, but most of them take the piss.
Yep. The one that sells @ £3.60 a pint is packed!

tr7v8

7,443 posts

243 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
chris.mapey said:
Eric Mc said:
I would suggest that large chains like Wetherspoons have done more to damage the traditional pub in England than the government.
Agree wholeheartedly. They have ruined many a town centre.

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT PRICE...

I want a bit of "character" from my boozer, not one full of social misfits drinking whatever is on offer instead of buying deodorant...

Don't even get me started on the food. How does anyone seriously think that two curries for £5 is going to be good food (or even good value)

It's very sad to see shortdated beer being sold for £1 a pint near other pubs that stock decent dated beer and are having to pay £2 per pint for it, before their mark-up.
Dunno about their curries but their breakkies are good & reasonable value. Travelling as much as I do they are a godsend when I want to eat.
As for beer surely beer doesn't have a sell by date? Beer is alcohol so doesn't go off as such unless badly treated.

DamoLLb

1,775 posts

210 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
Dave_ST220 said:
phil1979 said:
DamoLLb said:
Dave_ST220 said:
Eric Mc said:
I would suggest that large chains like Wetherspoons have done more to damage the traditional pub in England than the government.
How? By suppling drink people can afford? £1.85 a pint or £3.60(which is a bloody piss take for a country side pub in Shropshire IMO), not a hard choice.
thats just it. It wouldnt be £3.60 a pint if more people drank in a 'local'
My arse. There are loads of local pubs round my way, but most of them take the piss.
Yep. The one that sells @ £3.60 a pint is packed!
hmmm. Perhaps it has worked in your local pubs favour then. punters pay a premium to avoid the chav scum accepting that the extra quid a pint will put chavs off.

The real thing that has affected my local is the smoking ban....but thats a whole new can of worms

Mattygooner

5,301 posts

219 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
The WS pubs in the city are selling Stella for £3.30, it's not a rip off but not exactly cheapo.

Or are you suggesting that the economy is fecked because everyone is at the pub getting pickled on taxable beverages?

Edited by Mattygooner on Friday 13th March 16:10

anonymous-user

69 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
So i'm "Chav scum"?

DamoLLb

1,775 posts

210 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
Dave_ST220 said:
So i'm "Chav scum"?
I didn't say that

catso

15,188 posts

282 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
DamoLLb said:
Dave_ST220 said:
Eric Mc said:
I would suggest that large chains like Wetherspoons have done more to damage the traditional pub in England than the government.
How? By suppling drink people can afford? £1.85 a pint or £3.60(which is a bloody piss take for a country side pub in Shropshire IMO), not a hard choice.
thats just it. It wouldnt be £3.60 a pint if more people drank in a 'local'
It wouldn't be £3.60 were it not for the high tax take.

anonymous-user

69 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
DamoLLb said:
Dave_ST220 said:
So i'm "Chav scum"?
I didn't say that
I knnow, i was jesting wink Most of the JD's here are fine but i understand they do attarct the "wrong sort" wink

anonymous-user

69 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
catso said:
DamoLLb said:
Dave_ST220 said:
Eric Mc said:
I would suggest that large chains like Wetherspoons have done more to damage the traditional pub in England than the government.
How? By suppling drink people can afford? £1.85 a pint or £3.60(which is a bloody piss take for a country side pub in Shropshire IMO), not a hard choice.
thats just it. It wouldnt be £3.60 a pint if more people drank in a 'local'
It wouldn't be £3.60 were it not for the high tax take.
What is tax on a pint there days? Are we talking similar % to petrol for instance!!

john_p

7,073 posts

265 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
What probably does the pub industry just as much damage is those pubs selling the same stty food as Weatherspoons for 3x the price.