South Croydon landlord says local pubs 'being destroyed by chain'
A SOUTH Croydon landlord has accused a discount pub chain of "destroying" the traditional local boozer.
John Whelan, the new licensee of The Purley Arms, in Brighton Road, has already transformed the fortunes of another Croydon pub.
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Local is best: John Whelan, new landlord of the Purley Arms in South Croydon CRGM20120601E-003_C
But he admits the dominance of the JD Wetherspoon chain is making it more and more difficult for the "local" to flourish.
He told the Advertiser: "It is an obvious thing to say, but pubs are in decline. It is a fact that Wetherspoon's have destroyed an awful lot of them.
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"Local pubs haven't got a chance to compete directly with a pint and a meal for £5."
JD Wetherspoon is famous for offering cheap deals on food and alcohol but Eddie Gershon, a spokesman for the chain, says it is up to pubs to find their own ways of attracting customers.
He said: "Wetherspoon has ten or so pubs in Croydon and the surrounding area. We want to be part of a thriving pub scene and believe we offer good value.
"We say that ultimately it is down to the people to decide where they wish to eat or drink. People go to our pubs or choose not to go to them for their own reasons."
Mr Whelan has already been successful in turning round The Bedford Tavern, in Sydenham Road, Croydon, and aims to bring that experience to The Purley Arms.
He hopes offering the personal touch will help him attract customers away from Wetherspoon and the other chains.
Mr Whelan, who has taken a 20-year lease on the pub, plans to build on existing attractions, such as quiz and poker nights, and also have more live music.
The landlord, of Pampisford Road, South Croydon, added: "I like a good traditional wet-led house. I was brought up on old-school rules.
"This pub has a lovely feel about it but trade has dropped off over years.
"I want to turn it into the family pub it used to be and get those people back."
Comments
by podgygooner
Saturday, July 07 2012, 11:44AM
“Popped in the Purley Arms last night: excellent live band, beer was good (and three pints for under a tenner!) and it was rammed - excellent night out!”
by tbabygib
Saturday, June 16 2012, 8:29PM
“Oh lord,.! Ivor If the spelling and stuff comes in.,!? Then I'm in troble....!!!???”
by Ivor_Shed
Saturday, June 16 2012, 6:59PM
“cuppa - this thread is about pubs so to start asking for details of trolling is encouraging people to go off topic..
Mind you, if going off topic becomes illegal the courts will never keep up.
What next - grammar, punctuation and spelling errors to be illegal?
lets just lock everyone up and save time.
and why does DianaFrance earn a red arrow for bringing the topic back to pubs?”
by CuppaTeaPlz
Saturday, June 16 2012, 6:18PM
“Diana? can you provide me the link where it says that. Because I know its in USA.”
by DianaFrance
Friday, June 15 2012, 4:04PM
“To get us back on topic (posting off-topic being one definition of "trolling" which is soon to become illegal) - we don't often go to pubs (cheaper to drink at home) but when entertaining visitors recently we have encountered two levels of pub - reasonable price but limited selection, or grossly exhorbitant (White Bear) where a round shocked us indoors for a week.”
by CuppaTeaPlz
Friday, June 15 2012, 12:57PM
“Brings a bit of colour to the page red arrows, never liked green anyway.”
by PeterNT
Friday, June 15 2012, 11:26AM
“I see the people of Croydon are very negative aren't we. DOWN arrows galore.”
by PeterNT
Thursday, June 14 2012, 4:21PM
“Why not go down there and find out instead of writing about it on a computer website?”
by LAFANTASTICA
Thursday, June 14 2012, 4:18PM
“Perhaps men should be required to wear a label stating if they are married or single. : -)”
by Tubester
Thursday, June 14 2012, 4:04PM
“Wanda_Rinn, unfortunately for you he is married (well living with somebody)... but the Purley Arms does sometimes attract some decent looking fellas and not chavs I hasten to add!”