[Ken Moss]

Regrettably, although alcohol tax increases aren't helping, the breweries are as much to blame for the demise of the local pub as any government. When a pub is tied to a brewery it is forced to buy its keg beer from them, often at twice the price that it could buy it from a independent stockist.

For example, a barrel of Fosters costs around £240 for the pub to buy from a brewery whereas it would be around £120 for the same keg direct from the distributors. Pubs are also often nailed down to ludicrous rents, regardless of takings, which leaves many landlords working for virtually nothing.

In a few years we'll be left with only the most successful free houses and gastro pubs. Fortunately, Rishton has several very very good clubs which serve excellent ale at low prices but it still leaves the three local pubs up the creek.