Kentish Express, Friday 29 January 1982.

Publicans report flat beer trade.

Publicans are feeling the pinch as trade drops below normal for the time of year.

Mike Velleman, of the "Chequers," Biddenden, said:- "Businesses is dead. I've been here 3 years and these past few weeks have been the worst so far. It seems to be the same all around this area.

"People spent a lot of cash at Christmas and now they are finding electricity, heating and other bills coming in so they are cutting back.

"The daddy of them all," is how Jerry Allibone, National Union of Licensed Victuallers area Council chairman and Courage tenants national chairman, described the drop in business.

Detriment.

"Duty has been raised on our products by the the brewers who continue to subsidize the free trade - supermarkets, wine shops and cash-and-carry stores.

"This is to the detriment of the public and their own tenants who work 80 hours a week.

"The public has been encouraged to go home and drink as opposed to the centuries-old custom of drinking in the local community centre - the British pub, said Mr. Allibone who runs the "Queen's Head," Charing.

Tony Jeffery, at the "Man of Kent" in Ashford, said:- "This is the worst of the three Januarys we have known here.

"Lunchtime trade has not dropped but in the evenings it has been very quiet. People have bills coming in now and it's back to reality."

Lack.

Christopher Price, landlord of the "New Inn," New Romney, said:- The pub trade is not healthy at the moment - customers are certainly suffering from the lack of cash. Regular still come in but they haven't got so much to spend.

At the "George," Egerton, landlord David Drew is finding lunchtime business has dropped off.

"There is a tighten up generally and I think Government increases on beer are hitting hard.

David Brigden, general manager of the "Jolly Miller," Ashford's newest pub, which is part of the Flour Mills leisure complex, said he had no complaints.

"Obviously, we still have a novelty value, but we have taken the economic climates into consideration."