Luton Outlaws - Independent Message Board for Luton Town FC

Labour's budgets haven't helped that sector but the local councils are also to blame.

A certain mid-Beds town incentivised a pub chain with "Spoon" in their name to locate within their town centre, hoping that would bring more trade to the town.

They were given free business rates for 3 years whilst the other hostelries were just coming out of Covid business rate grants so they now pay the full business rates.

Two long established pubs have already closed, two others on the brink and only able to open their doors on certain days/evenings as it is costing too much to employ bartenders.

One landlord told me they decided to close on Tuesdays as their average takings over the preceding 3 Tuesdays was £142 ... whilst paying for 4 bartenders to cover the day's opening hours.

This is without the independent pub benefitting from the bulk buying discounts negotiated by "Spoons" - they were selling the same ale cheaper than he buys it directly from the brewery.

Despite hoping to last until the World Cup 'boom' this summer, he is expecting to close his doors for good before April.