Last updated 11:49, Tuesday, 07 October 2008

Pub. Just three little letters, p-u-b, but it’s a great word. Sadly, according to lots of recent reports, it’s a word that could die out through lack of use.

Survivor: The Old Crown, Hesket Newmarket

Apparently pubs are closing at a rate of almost 30 a week. The smoking ban, rising rents, increased pump prices and the credit crunch are all blamed to different degrees.

One Cumbrian pub that has managed to thrive while others struggle to survive is The Old Crown at Hesket Newmarket. Five years ago it was on the brink of closing – until a group of locals bought it to run as a co-operative.

Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, making a decent living for its tenants and a small profit which is poured back into the business.

It has done so well that BBC2’s Money Programme is making a special programme there today .

I’m very lucky where I live to have a brilliant one, run exceptionally well. It plays a big role in our community, it’s a meeting place, an island of calm, a talking shop and occasional committee room.

I’d like to go a bit more often, but with a young family, it’s not always that easy.

Pubs play an important part in community life, whether it is in a town or city, on an estate or in a rural village and they’re worth supporting.

I’m not urging everyone to go out and get blind drunk, but I think it does most people of most ages good to get out for a drink occasionally.

You get a bit of exercise and you get to meet people from the local area. You hear the local news (or gossip) and it is a place to network. What’s the alternative on a Saturday night? Dale Winton?