Do our pubs have a future?

What does the future hold for our pubs - and what role can they still play in our communities? We took to the streets of Newark to find our what residents think. With rising costs and the challenge of cheaper booze in shops and supermarkets, many pubs are disappearing from our streets — often becoming housing and destined to never serve punters again. Today, Newark still has numerous pubs, bars and micropubs — but many more are much lamented, with the likes of the Crown and Cushion on Albion Street, Blue Man on Northgate, The Newcastle Arms on George Street and the Newark Arms on Appletongate no longer operating.

Recently, an application has been submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council to turn The Watermill pub on Millgate into four flats and three cottages on its car park — prompting a further debate on the future of our area’s pubs. Do people want our pubs to survive? If so, what role can they play in a modern community? What’s the secret to a pub’s success in 2025? Sally Faisey, originally from Newark, has been living abroad for a few years. She said: “In Newark, the pubs are vital, it is a thing bringing everyone together, generations of people and you have a drink and it is a way that everyone can socialise.



” Martin Kyne, who is also living abroad but grew up around the area, said: “We are both in our 50s and we have seen quite a lot of pubs come and go, like the Wetherspoons, which was quite disappointing. “I think quite a few of the pubs are still going, have gone back to the original names and have been done up and that is quite a big improvement. “Everywhere you get pubs that are open and shut and depending on how old you are, you have memories of pubs that aren’t here anymore.

” Mick Smith and his wife Barbara believe that pubs are important for the community as they get people to socialise. Mr Smith added: “Closing Wetherspoons was the daftest decision that they have down in Newark.” Kevin Bradshaw, who also agreed with the pubs efficiency to get out of the house and meet with friends and family said: “The problem is also the expense, a lot of people can’t afford to go down to the pub and in some cases it can even be considered a luxury due to the price of the beer.

“It would be great if pubs were saved and beer prices were lower, but they have the pub of having to balance the books.” Even some people that we spoke to, who don’t drink, agreed that it is important to save pubs as they have become more than a drinking space, but a social one. June Clarke, who doesn’t drink, said: “I go to pubs occasionally to meet friends and we need to keep them open for people to have a place to go for quizzes, special events, and socialise.

” What about you, what do you think? Is there a former pub that you miss most? Let us know your views on the topic in the comments below..