Only drinkers can save pubs

The caution came from Cliviger. There, though some of its seven pubs are thriving and drawing in outsiders, others are closing down.

But despite this contrast, it is evident that, overall, rural pubs are fighting an increasingly tough battle for customers and survival. In recent years, says the British Beer and Pub Association, the number of country inns and hostelries has halved and it estimates that six are shutting down every week.

One clear cause is the change in drinking habits, with many people now buying drink at supermarket prices and drinking at home. It is a trend that is also stimulated by drink-driving laws and the preference of younger people for larger, themed pubs in town centres.

And while many country pubs are busy at weekends, during the week many find customers are scarce as the lifestyle changes erode the essence of former village 'locals' and turn many of them them into 'destination' pubs with fewer community links. It is a phenomenon that is encouraged by many becoming as much restaurants as drinking places and by more doing the same -- though, as the declining number of rural pubs shows, it is a formula that does not guarantee survival.

What may come to the rescue of the country pubs? A new campaign, launched last December by Prince Charles, urged the licensed trade and rural communities to act together and consider providing other services in pubs , such as a post office or even church services -- something East Lancashire has already witnessed -- or running grocery deliveries from them.

Essentially, this is the familiar use-it-or-lose-it message that accompanied the threat not only to village pubs, but to rural post offices, shops and churches. But as the loss of many already has shown, the facilities and character of country communities are changing at a pace -- but is it for the better when the once-thriving village pub is a business people must now enter with considerable caution?