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FOR five years, Peter Seed has run The Woodman Inn, a traditional real ale pub in the heart of Durham City.

However, he believes the days of such hostelries are numbered.

The law against smoking in public and the sale of cheap alcohol in supermarkets have hit his trade, and that of similar oldstyle pubs, and Mr Seed is not expecting the Budget to deliver much cheer for him and his customers.

Mr Seed said the best way to tackle binge drinking, rather than increasing the tax on the sort of drinks youngsters buy, was to limit the sale of alcohol to only pubs and properly run off-licences.

He said: "This business of putting 20p on a bottle of wine will not stop it. Kids have more money than you and I."

Mr Seed would like to see business rates - "the most expensive bill I have" - reduced, but believes the Government is not interested in the problems facing small businessmen.

He said: "The Chancellor will hit the usual targets - drinkers, smokers and drivers - and I do not see how he can help small businesses.

"If he puts the price of drink up, I will have to absorb it, I cannot afford to pass it on. The smoking ban has really affected us. A pint here costs £2.50, but you can get four cans for that at Tesco and drink them at home and smoke.

"The only reason to come out is the social side, but as fewer people come out, there is less of the social side. I do not think there will be places like this in a few years."

10:14am Wednesday 12th March 2008

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