For a thousand years the pub has been an essential part of the British way of life: the very centre of the community.

In recent years, the traditional British pub has come under threat like never before. Most pubs are no longer owned by breweries but large pub owning companies (PubCos), which often use them as a financial asset to be bought, sold or closed as the market dictates, frequently simply for short-term profit.

We believe that an institution that has served this country so well for so long, and still gives so much pleasure to millions of people deserves more respect. We therefore campaign to protect all pubs within our area.

Thanks to the Localism Act 2011, these days there is legislation enabling regulars of a pub to group together and nominate it to the local council as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). Once an ACV has been granted for a pub, the owners cannot close it or change its use without first offering the local community the opportunity to buy it at fair market value to keep it as a pub.

CAMRA can provide guidance and assistance to locals on how to register their pub as an ACV and on how to turn it into a community-owned pub should it come under threat.

If you become aware of a threat of closure to a Berkshire South-East pub then please contact our Branch Pub Protection Officer.