The trouble is this - the reason they are/will be closed is due to a lack of trade, something you will see everywhere (eg Badger on Brockwell Lane, New Inn Tupton, plus a couple in Dronfield) and unless there is a lot of money chucked at them to make them more attractive to their target market, they will only stay open for a short while as they still fail to attract new (and more importantly REGULAR) customers.
Signing petitions is really like putting a sticking plaster on an open wound - they need to get to the root of the problem, which is:
1. Cheap booze sold in supermarkets
2. Takeaway meals are now mostly delivered
3. Low cost DVD rentals and/or online movies (eg Sky, Netflix, Lovefilm etc etc)
4. Smoking ban in pubs
Your choice is to:
1. Go out in the dark and cold/rainy nights to buy beer at premium prices and watch what the pub plays on the tv whilst eating a (microwaved) meal - and then having to stand outside for a fag
or
2. Stay at home in the warmth, open a can whilst eating a freshly delivered pizza and watching a dvd - oh, and you can also have a smoke in the comfort of your armchair.
Went to the Woodside last weekend for a meal and I was talking to the licensee, she has the same trouble as my daughter had at their pub.........management companies are reluctant to spend money on refurbs in order to attract customers. It's a catch 22 situation and I am at a loss to see what the answer is.
Apologies for the negative post
