Taunton’s pub scene isn’t as dire as some people would have you believe, a landlord has claimed.
Carlos Alfaro, who runs the Castle Green Inn and is acting chairman of the Taunton Night Time Economy Group, said businesses were having to evolve to survive, but plenty of people want to run licensed premises locally, he said.
He was speaking after Taunton & District Civic Society highlighted plans for four former pubs where pints are no longer pulled. They were: n An application for eight houses at the Eagle Tavern in South Street.
n The Gardeners Arms, in Priors-wood Road, re-opening as a Tesco Exp-ress next month.
Plans to transform the dere-lict Naval & Military in East Reach into a shop and seven one-bedroom studio flats.
The Westgate Inn in Shut-tern becoming an Indian rest-aurant.
Several other pubs have disappeared over the years, including The Telegraph, Oak & Acorn and Denmark Inn, while the Black Horse in Bridge Street was the latest casualty to close last month.
Mr Alfaro, pictured, said: “The business has changed substantially and food now accounts for about half the income of pubs across the nation – the business has evolved. Lots of places may have closed but how about all the ones which have opened?
“Look at the Pitcher & Piano, Cosy Club, Coal Orchard and Perkin Warbeck – they aren’t on what were traditionally public house sites – and the Apple & Parrot has recently reopened. There are positive signs for Taunton.
“Taunton’s night-time economy has suffered like most businesses during the downturn but lots of people are still quite keen to open pub businesses.”
On top of the economic downturn, the traditional pub has been hit by the ban on smoking in public places, cheap supermarket booze and ‘designer’ pubs which undercut small operators.
