New TV series seeks to save UK pub

After Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, Gok Wan and Mary Queen of Shops, now it’s the turn of the beleaguered UK pub industry to benefit from the transforming influence of a TV makeover programme.

“Save Our Boozer” is a new five part show series due to be shown on Sky TV channel Blighty from Tuesday 8 December.

Award winning pub landlord Jay Smith will visit five different ailing pubs across the UK in a bid to identify their problems and save them from joining the 50 pubs which currently close each week in the UK.

Each programme will track the progress made by Smith and the local community over a two-month period as they work together to save their pub.

Smith, who owns two successful independent bars called Monty’s in York and Harrogate, highlights the aim of the series: “By showing viewers how these five communities get their own pub up and running, I hope others will be inspired to do the same.

“Of course, there is the risk that it could all go horribly wrong, in which case it may end up being an example of how not to do it!

“But if we can get communities working together to get their British pubs back, it will be good for our communities, good for tourism and good for the great British boozer.”

Blighty is available via Sky channel 534 or Virgin TV channel 206.

Gabriel Savage, 03.11.09