Just got back from the singaround. A pint has just gone up by 5p when prices should be going down in a shrinking market.

Smack on! everyone who's pointed to corporate pub owners for the death of pubs.

If the punters won't pay inflated prices then - hands simply wave in the air: 'Unviable - better flog the asset off for devepopment' (better for greedy shareholders that is...). And with the capital raised by liquidising traditional meeting places - it can be 'off to the best return on capital' in the global market place: nuclear bombs, cattle prods for third world regimes perhaps, spy cameras, general puntercrap which breaks down the day after the guarantee expires; Futures and other bits of imaginary money etc etc..

As I said in an earlier posting - as many pubs as possible need to be in the hands of those with higher motivations. Of course a particular pub needs to be economically viable but strip out the 'maximum return on capital' parasites - and a good many more pubs could stay open through ownership dedicated to serving decent beer bought direct from a quality brewery; and providing the traditional socialising space within the community where most customers live.

Thought - hasn't CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) arranged for pubs to be saved by being bought by members? Perhaps folkies could make contact with local CAMRA groups and see what is possible.

Ian Fyvie