Not only do rural Laois pubs face the usual challenges of a fall-off in customers due to tougher drink driving laws and the legacy of Covid but they are badly affected by the lack of taxi services operating outside Portlaoise.
This is according to Diarmuid Casey, secretary of the Laois branch of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland.
“Some pubs have responded to the problem by providing their own transport service,” he said.
But a number of rural Laois pubs have closed down recently, Diarmuid observed.
“Vicarstown used to have two pubs, now it has none. The nearest is The Fisherman’s Inn which is five or six miles away. Stradbally has only three pubs at the moment. It had five.
“Mountrath, for a long time only had three pubs. Now it has four with the possibility of a fifth which is a good sign,” he said.
Pubs are real social outlets, facilitating interaction between people of different backgrounds and ages who might not otherwise mix, also providing sports fans with a meeting point to cheer on their favourite teams, and all the banter that goes with that, Diarmuid contended.
He was speaking in advance of a social night for VFI members in Kavanaghs last week, with music and a display of old photographs.
John Clendennen, the current VFI president and former past president and Stradbally publican, Dick Dunne, were among the attendance at the social event on Tuesday night last.
“There are 72 Laois members, a decrease of 12 on the last five years. Treacy’s of The Heath which dates back to 1780, is the premises with the longest involvement in the Laois branch,” Diarmuid said.
The federation which has a new CEO, Pat Crotty from Kilkenny, has lobbied on numerous issues affecting the industry in recent years.
“Tougher drink driving laws had an impact and Covid had a big effect. People got into the habit of not going out as much as they used to.
“That, along with increased overheads costs such as in energy, has resulted in various pubs not opening on Mondays and Tuesdays,” said Portlaoise publican Carroll.
‘Prinks’ – pre-drinks – mean young people are drinking less when they go out, and sometimes they go directly to night clubs rather than meeting in the pub, Diarmuid said.
The vast range of non-alcoholic drinks now available means designated drivers have choice.
“There has been a major push in the last few years from breweries and distilleries for 0.0 drinks and most pubs have a good selection, with products on draught.
“People who have to drive the next day might have a few alcoholic drinks and then go onto 0.0 drinks.”
“A lot of pubs are trying to encourage customers by holding music sessions and table quizzes. Some premises are changing their habits in a bid to try to increase footfall,” Diarmuid said.
While a lot of UK pubs serve food, it is less popular here. “Some have tried it in the last few years but it is very costly to set up a food business,” Diarmuid said.
The vast majority of Laois pubs are family businesses, he said. Despite all the difficulties, he said he is optimistic that things will hold out.
“Most publicans have invested a lot of time and money in their premises which are their livelihoods. They have to keep at it.”
Looking down the tracks, the Sale of Alcohol Bill is scheduled to come in next year, Diarmuid said.
“The government propose to abolish the existing extinguishment of a licence to open up a new pub which would lead to deregulation, something publicans wouldn’t be happy about.
“Also under the Bill there will be extended opening hours from 10.30 to 12.30.”
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