Impact case study database

Professor Cabras’ research generated impact in three key areas: 1) improving awareness and supporting national pub campaigns, 2) informing national policy change, and 3) supporting communities to save their local pubs.

4.1 Improving awareness and supporting national campaigns

Cabras’ research directly increased public understanding and appreciation of how important pubs are in rural communities, and their contribution to local social cohesion and economic development. Several influential groups have engaged with, and shared, Cabras’ research, including national media (UK, Ireland, Europe) [ E1.1]; charities (e.g., Institute for Alcohol Studies and Power to Change) [ E1.2- E1.3]; and organisations operating in the beer and pub sector (e.g., Campaign for Real Ale – CAMRA, and Society for Independent Brewers - SIBA) [ E2- E3]. This strengthened the campaign narrative of those seeking national support for pubs, such as CAMRA (a consumer organisation with nearly 200,000 members across Europe) and SIBA (an association representing 750 craft breweries in the UK). Nick Love (Pub Protection Officer, CAMRA) noted that Cabras’ research ‘provided us with robust and factual evidence to promote many of our initiatives [and] is fundamental for us in view of achieving our goals’ [ E2]. Similarly, Mike Benner (Chief Executive, SIBA) stated Cabras’ work ‘alerted us to the significance of these places [and] influenced our campaign focus on pubs… We addressed and emphasised the importance with UK government [and] Cabras’ research provided us with robust evidence to do this’ [ E3]. CAMRA and SIBA have frequently used Cabras’ research in their budget submissions to the UK Government’s Budget process, advocating for lower taxation and duties to provide relief for, and increase the profitability of, these establishments [ E4]. These campaigns spurred debate in the House of Commons [ E5] that led to tax freezes and a 13% decrease in beer duty from 2013/14 to 2019/20 [ E6, Fig 2, p3].

4.2 Informing national policy change

Cabras’ research informed further policy change enacted in the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017, which altered the planning permission stipulations regarding the demolition of a drinking establishment in England [ E7.2]. Now planning permission is required for demolition or change of use of a pub, not only those in listed buildings, a conservation area, or those nominated/registered as an Asset of Community Value. Communities now have power to raise objections to proposals to repurpose pubs, increasing the likelihood that they can save their local pub from closure [ E7]. Cabras’ research was directly cited as evidence in a House of Lords debate on this Act by Lord Shipley, who stated:

‘The research, undertaken by Professor Ignazio Cabras and Dr Matthew Mount, showed that there was stronger community cohesion in parishes with pubs... Their conclusion was that we needed legislation to prevent unnecessary closures. That has convinced me that we need to do something to address this problem. Removing permitted development rights seems the most effective way.’ [ E7.1]

4.3 Supporting communities to save their local pubs

Initiatives aimed at preserving the role of pubs in rural communities have used empirical evidence from Cabras’ research – the most notable being CAMRA’s ‘ Saving Your Local Pub: A comprehensive toolkit for campaigners’, designed to provide solutions and advice about how to protect pubs from unnecessary closure and maintain them as viable businesses [ E8]. Nick Love (Pub Protection Officer, CAMRA) said that Cabras’ research ‘ forms an integral part of [the] toolkit’, which ‘ has been downloaded over one thousand times, helping many communities to keep their locals open’ including: The Punch Bowl (York, population: 198,051), Lord Nelson (Nether Poppleton, North Yorkshire, population: 2,077) and The Plough (Fadmoor, North Yorkshire, population: 100) [ E2], located in Yorkshire where typically few transport connections and services are found in rural settings limiting access to alternative community hubs or job opportunities.

Cabras’ research was also directly cited in several successful Asset of Community Value applications submitted to local authorities across the UK by small and isolated rural communities, including: The Crown and Mitre (Bampton, Cumbria, population: 373), The Red Lion (Wingham, Kent, population: 1,775), and The Baker’s Arms (Somerford Keynes, Gloucestershire, population: 479) [ E9]. John Whitwell, Parish Councillor for Somerford Keynes, acknowledged Cabras’ research as vital to the success of their application as it enabled them to ‘demonstrate that losing the Baker’s Arms was not just a whim on the part of our village, but a serious threat on the life of our local community’. By rescuing their local pubs from closure, rural communities such as Somerford Keynes have been able to preserve a much-needed ‘hub’ for community activities, including charitable initiatives, supper clubs, quiz nights, christenings, weddings, and funerals [ E10].