Now retired after more than 40 years in full-time journalism, Alan takes a wry look at life in the 21st Century. You can also read Alan's column every Monday in The Bolton News . . .
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RECENT figures suggest that up to four British pubs are closing every day as they struggle with the effects of the smoking ban, rising costs and competition from cheaper alcohol offers in supermarkets.
You only have to look at the number of Bolton area pubs that have either been closed or turned in to restaurants recently to know that major changes are taking place.
Punch Taverns is one of the modern pub companies now running one near you - it has more than 8,400 leased, tenanted and directly-managed establishments across the UK.
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The latest half-year results showed a pre-tax profit up one per cent to £133 million - slightly ahead of forecasts.
The company's Chief Executive, Giles Thorley, has been quoted as saying the market should start to recover this summer, particularly if it is a better summer than last year.
But he predicts that there will be fewer pubs in 10 years as traditional "watering holes" - those that sell little food - go bust and pub groups convert more premises to residential properties.
What a depressing prospect.
It makes you look back nostalgically to the days when pubs were owned by breweries or people who found it worthwhile to sink their savings in to buying a "local".
I suppose we have to hope that the property market declines enough for the corporate types running the industry to think that they may as well keep the pubs open.
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