The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has welcomed a report by the House of Lords select committee on Regenerating Seaside Towns and Communities.
The report, which BBPA chief executive, Brigid Simmonds, contributed to through a select committee hearing, notes how many seaside towns continue to rely on tourism and hospitality as key economic drivers.
Launched during English Tourism Week, the report has recommended that a sector deal for tourism could play a key role in regenerating seaside towns. In particular, it proposes that efforts are made to promote and champion hospitality — a key part of England’s tourism offer — as a rewarding and exciting career.
Likewise, the report has noted concerns with regards to future government migration policy, reflecting the views of the BBPA that any future immigration system must ensure that tourism and hospitality businesses — so crucial to seaside towns — have access to talent from abroad.
Local leadership is identified in the report as being key to helping seaside towns regenerate and grow, as shown by Brighton, Colwyn Bay and Bogner Regis, who all reached the finals of the Great British High Street Awards. Investment and work undertaken by Dan Davies, chief executive of Rockpoint Leisure, in New Brighton, is also shown in the report as an example of how hospitality can play a leading role in the regeneration of seaside towns.
Brigid Simmonds said:“We welcome this report and its recognition of the leading role hospitality and tourism businesses like pubs can play in the regeneration of seaside towns.
“To help seaside towns prosper, it is vital that businesses like pubs get all the support they can to drive growth. It is encouraging that the report sees a sector deal for tourism as playing a key role in regenerating seaside towns, and that efforts should be made to champion and promote careers in the pub, hospitality and tourism industries.
“Local licensing and planning authorities working together in support of the agent of change principle are also key to the future success of our seaside towns if they are to have a vibrant night time economy. It is important too that local economic partnerships deliver on their core objectives to promote local economic growth and do not isolate coastal areas that are hard to tackle.”
