Growing divide in turnover for rural and urban pubs

With profits down by 30%, thousands of publicans have been forced to reduce hours and cut costs to survive, with a growing number closing their doors.

Rural pubs are suffering most with emigration, changing social habits and the deepening recession threatening the future of many publicans.

AIB’s sectoral report on the licensed premises has found a growing divide between urban and rural areas, with the majority of pubs in Dublin saying they plan to invest and expand in the next three years.