LOCAL pubs have attracted considerable investment recently, but there are fears it could be at the expense of more traditional watering holes.

The White Horse, Southchurch Boulevard, reopened after a £365,000 facelift and rebranding as the Old Walnut Tree. The Halfway House, Eastern Esplanade, Southend, been refurbished and has relaunched as a Toby Carvery.

Rayleigh’s Travellers Joy underwent refurbishment and recently won Hungry Horse Pub of the Year. The Spread Eagle, in Victoria Avenue, Southend, is under new management after being transformed into a sports bar.

All are family pubs with thriving restaurants, or, like the Spread Eagle, are geared for sports fans. For the more traditional pub, where ale-lovers and regulars can prop up the bar, the future is bleaker. So much so, the Campaign for Real Ale says despite the deluge of investment, it is concerned about the pub trade in south Essex.

Camra’s south east Essex representative, Maggie Osborn, said: “The general view is that if a pub company is refurbishing a pub and paying for it, then these things are good. But there are lots of horror stories from pub companies not funding refurbs.

“In general, the trade feels it is a little on the downward slope.

Places with good transport links seem to be surviving, but country pubs in the middle of nowhere are struggling. People work really hard and try to think of ways to bring people in, and there are those who try to retain a community feel, but it’s difficult.”

In fact, the investment many pubs have attracted has turned them into eateries, which happen to have a bar.

David Mortlock, manager of the newly-built Saxon King, in Priory Crescent, is discovering surprising trends, but thinks there is still a place for a traditional pub. He said: “Fish and chips and pies are still popular.

"But we’re seeing people at different times than pubs are used to.

"From 4pm to 6pm we’re busy with people eating with their kids after school. Sunday roasts are still popular and the usual Friday and Saturday nights.

“There is still a place for the old-fashioned ‘back street boozer’, but just maybe less of them.”

With pubs relying more on food sales to keep them going, the community spirit of a pub seems to be dwindling, but owners are still trying to buck the trend.

The Cherry Tree, in Stambridge, opened in 1793 and owner, Darren Chittock, tries to keep the old atmosphere alive.

He said: “All these new places, if you stand at the bar you get told to sit at a table, which is crazy. We rely on our food, but with Camra’s help we have five good ales and try to make people laugh and keep them coming back.

“The days of people three deep at the bar are gone and, because you have to drive to us, it does make it hard, but we keep going.”

The Plough and Sail, in Paglesham, has a history dating back more than 300 years, and its community spirit is still strong.

Tasmin Arthurton has worked at the pub for three years and thinks it is still grounded in the community. She said: “It is full at weekends. You get all the regulars coming in and saying hello.

“We run a quiz night every fortnight, so that brings people in during the week and we do lots of community events, so it would still class it as a traditional local pub.”

It's already too late for some

WITH investment vital to the fortunes of many flagging pubs, it is already too late for some.

Billericay’s 200-year-old Rising Sun closed earlier this year to be turned into flats. In 2010, when Canewdon’s Chequers pub closed, it left the village with just one pub.

Both the Silver Jubilee and the King Canute, on Canvey, have closed this year and are set to be transformed into a Morrisons’ M Local and a Coop respectively.

Joanne Cramp, former landlady of the Silver Jubilee, said: “I don’t think the old fashioned pub trade in general is doing that well.

“We tried offering food, but it wasn’t for our regulars.

“A lot of the problem is that people do not have extra money any more to go out and spend at a pub.

“People are struggling with bills and luxuries are the first thing to go when you are struggling.”

The time has not come for Little Wakering’s Castle Inn to close and it has even ventured into a menu for dogs to attracts more customers, but co-manager Lisa Carafelli said money was needed.

She said: “Lots of places are offering good food and beer, so people look to diversify and stand out. The doggy menu has helped with that.

“We desperately need investment, but we have spoken to our owners and they do not have any money.”