THE landlord of an award-winning country inn believes that running a pub has become noticeably harder in his 35 years in the trade.

Steve Dilworth, 64, and his 58-year-old wide Christine have had the Swan with Two Necks in Pendleton for almost 31 years. Before that they ran the The Falcon in Burnley Town Centre for four.

Mr Dilworth blames constant increases in beer and alcohol taxes, the breaking of the brewery tie and consequent rise of the giant ‘Pubcos’ , and unfair competition from supermarket bargain booze offers for many to the problems he and his colleagues face.

The Swan with Two Necks has made a speciality of first-class real ale, home-made food, especially pies, and a family atmosphere to make the hostelry the centre of village life.

On Thursday it was packed for a village funeral.

Mr Dilworth said: “ It was a great occasion but also very sad. A pub and its hosts have to be prepared for whoever and whatever comes through the door.

“I definitely think it has become harder running a pub. It can be difficult running a village pub but I don’t think I could run a town centre one now.

“One reason is the constant increases in beer duty and another was the 1989 Beer Orders which ended the brewery tie and saw the rise of the giant Pubco pub companies which have no interest in beer and pubs and are run by accountants who only care about the bottom line.

“I don’t think that helped. At least the breweries were interested in beer and pubs. We are very lucky we could buy the pub outright in 1998.

“The other big thing that needs to change is the beer tax system so it takes account of the costs of selling draught beer and levels the playing field with cheap supermarket offers so young people can afford to come into the pub for a drink.”

But it’s not all gloom for Steve and his inn, Campaign for Real Ale National Pub of the Year in 2014.

He said: “Pubs have to specialise - be it in food, live music. beers or gins -and have that special family atmosphere Christine brings to ours.

“I think in the next three years the steep decline in pub numbers will slow down and stop. It will reach the right level while pubs themselves continue to evolve.”