Pints West 92, Winter 2011 - Bristol & District CAMRA

PINTS WEST
The decline of the English off licence
Much is made – quite rightly – of the increasing number of
pubs going out of business, but the decline of the off licence
is often overlooked. The collapse of First Quench – owners
of Threshers, Wine Rack, The Local, Victoria Wine, Bottoms Up and
Haddows – in October 2009 saw 1,200 off licences wiped off the map
– with the loss of 6,000 jobs – at one go. That though was simply the
most dramatic development in a long and sorry saga that has been
going on since the first supermarkets opened in Britain in the 1950s.
In the five years leading up to First Quench’s collapse, the
number of off licences in Britain fell from 5,430 to 4,400. Although
many off licences survive and continue to thrive – whether it be
bulk supply outlets like Bargain Booze or upmarket wine chains like
Oddbins and Majestic (not to mention specialist beer stores) – the
supermarkets are keen to expand in this as in every other sector. Not
only do they shift staggering quantities of loss-leading lager, they also
pride themselves on offering top-quality wines at competitive prices.
In recent years they have jumped onto the real ale bandwagon
as well, with bottle-conditioned beers – virtually unobtainable in
supermarkets a few years ago – now a regular fixture in many stores.
Once there seemed to be an off licence on almost every corner.
This off licence stood on the corner of Chatterton Square in Redcliffe –
long since redeveloped – just across the road from Temple Meads station.
The Live & Let Live in Queen Ann
Road, Barton Hill, on the corner of
Goulter Street – long demolished.
The Lynmouth House at 62 Lower
Ashley Road was pulled down to
make way for the roundabout at the
end of the M32.
The off licence at 13 Thomas Street,
off Stokes Croft, demolished to make
way for flats.
This off licence stood at the junction
off Colston and Trenchard Streets, just
up from the Gryphon. New buildings
now occupy the site.
The Malthouse – now the Old Malthouse – in Westbury-on-Trym.
The British Lion on the corner of Clement and Elton Streets in St Pauls.
The site is now occupied by an industrial unit just off Newfoundland Way.
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The Mechanics Arms on Forest
Road in Kingswood was pulled
down to make for Eaton Close.
Morleys off licence at 48 Gloucester
Road, on the corner of Raglan Road
– now Paul Stevens solicitors.