It seems there’s an appetite for setting up a real ale micropub in Ruddington – despite our village centre already having seven long established inns.
Add to these existing pubs our two social clubs, golf club, cocktail bar, a licensed hotel and restaurants and you may well wonder why?
Well, according to The Micropub & Microbreweries Association : ‘A Micropub is a small freehouse which listens to its customers, mainly serves cask ales, promotes conversation, shuns all forms of electronic entertainment and dabbles in traditional pub snacks’. Certainly a pub without any televisions, piped music or an arcade machine in our village would be unique. And there are a couple of empty retail units at the moment which, if given permission, might even be suited to one.
The debate began last week when Joe Bull @pubstopinns tweeted
“@RUDDINGTON_info would Ruddington benefit from a micropub? #CAMRA #REALALE”
In response we set up a seven day Twitter survey – the results of which are below:
STRAW POLL: 📝
Please complete & RT.@pubstopinns@nickteg@RuddyMcRuddface@BarsixRudd
Q: Would Ruddington benefit from a #RealAle micropub?— Ruddington Village (@RUDDINGTON_info) December 28, 2016
So it seems over half of those taking part would support the addition of a new village micropub, with less than a quarter thinking it’s a bad idea. Perhaps surprisingly, among those thinking it would be a good move is Mark Anderson from The Ruddington Arms, who told us “Giving customers from both the village and outside more choice to spend money and a reason to visit Ruddington can only be positive.”
Andy Hunt from The White Horse says “We would welcome any new business to the village as the High Street seems to be struggling at the minute. I think anyone trying to build a business plan for a new micropub in the village would struggle. With the amount of places offering somewhere to drink and the population not looking to increase massively over the next few years I can’t see why someone would bother. I think that what the village needs is to attract more of a younger clientele and I can’t see this doing that.”
One of the relative newcomers, Bar Six, tweeted “You have a selection of pubs which sell over 25 real ales and you want a micropub?” Then, also speaking on behalf of The Three Crowns, their spokesperson continued: “Why don’t you go and ask Julia’s Kitchen if she would be happy with another cake shop opening. I know already what the answer would be as she spoke very strongly against a cake stand at the Xmas Market. Now bear in mind that was for 4 hours.
“Why do we need anymore? We have had 7 that have survived for such a long time, just barely in my opinion, and by this I mean lack of footfall in the village throughout the year, why fix what’s not broken?
“People’s spending habits have changed, trams have been installed taking what once was a very loyal decent customer base from there direct to to town or Wilford. Town has yet again upped its game with more eateries and new bars.
“House prices in Ruddington are now ridiculously high and I believe people now don’t have as much of a disposable income as they once did and find themselves with larger mortgages so that they can guarantee decent education for their children.
“This is just my opinion and I’m all for a bit of competition but it simply would not work.”
However village resident Sarah Fave Godfrey replied on Facebook: “The village is growing. There is a healthy demand. It’s becoming a destination for its food and drink outlets. Why not?”
Ade Herbison was less enthusiastic, commenting: “Always keen on new business, but struggle to see USP of new pub in Rudd?” whilst Richard Thomas said: “I’d like it for an occasional visit but don’t think Rudd can sustain one and wouldn’t want to damage our already great selection of pubs by applying more consumer pressure”.
David Hall is also sceptical: “Who is likely to consider opening a micro pub in a village that already has 7 pubs and 2 clubs?” But fellow Parish Councillor Nick Tegerdine replied “Zzzz! If no need a premise will close/ change use. Change is positive. Look around and see what’s happening. There are at least two proposals right now. Not if, but when.”
But where might a new Ruddington micropub go? As well as the former Barclays Bank premises (pictured top – but rumoured to soon become another nail bar) of course there’s another empty unit on High Street where ‘Drinks & More’ closed down – which is perhaps more likely to secure planning permission having previously held a liquor licence.
So watch this space!
