Taunton's landlords struggle

12:10pm Friday 14th November 2008

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LANDLORDS in Taunton are reporting tough times.

n Tim Prosser, of The Princess Royal, Canon Street, said: “Trade is extremely tough. We’re getting the same amount of people in but they’re not spending the same amount of cash.

“It’s definitely the credit crunch that is doing it. I don’t blame the smoking ban.

“I don’t think it’s all down to the supermarkets either. They’ve been selling drink for years, and it doesn’t make much difference.

“We need to weather the storm. Everybody has to tighten their belts.”

n Nick Keitch, former landlord of The Ring of Bells, Taunton, which closed in the summer, said: “I always wanted to have a pub but the running cost and bills are so high you can’t make any money and you end up putting your own money in.

“I forked out on a new kitchen in the pub so we could start doing some catering.

“I was there 18 months before I called it a day. It has been an expensive learning curve.”

n Michelle Barnes, of The Eagle Tavern, South Street, said: “We’ve started to dipping into our personal savings to make this pub work.

“I understand that people can’t afford to drink but we can’t drop our prices anymore. The overheads are astronomical.

I’ve been here two years and not taken a wage at all.”