East Midlands

We were once a nation of real ale regulars. It seemed almost everyone had their local pub.

Maxwell Craven outside a derelict pub.

Deals were done, weekends whiled away, sweethearts wooed and whenever national or local crisis struck, people rallied round down at the pub.

But beers sales are down and many pubs are closing.

A British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) report published in January 2009 says that a record 39 pubs a week are closing in Britain.

In total 1,973 pubs shut up shop in 2008, a figure 40% higher than in 2007.

Calling time

We sent author and real ale fan Maxwell Craven on a pub crawl with a difference - to find out how many pubs are closed up and derelict.

One of the hardest hit areas is Max's own stamping ground, Derbyshire, a county which has seen one in 10 pubs close during the last few years.

'The Derby Mile' - once vibrant.

The once notorious 'Derby mile' - a locally famous pub crawl along Friar Gate and Ashbourne Road - has been hit hard.

Andy Thornewill is the landlord of The Traveller's Rest, which has now become the first pub on 'the mile' after the Derbyshire Yeoman closed and reopened as a fast food restaurant.

Andy explains that he thinks pubs have been hit by a triple whammy - management companies taking too much out of the business; the smoking ban encouraging smokers to stay away; and cheap booze from supermarkets.

"Cheap beer, cheap spirits and wine - I can't compete against that," Andy told us.

Survival of the fattest?

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) says its research shows that 84% of people believe a pub is as essential to village life as a shop or post office.

It is running a Save Our Pubs campaign to put a stop to the closure of British pubs.

Max found that surviving in this market means it's often not enough to rely on a well kept pint and a few packets of crisps.

Good pub grub has become the 'Holy Grail' for many pubs.

Others have expanded into other businesses.

Publican Ian Quill - new challenges.

Some incorporate the village shop, others run an over-the-bar post office and others even cook and deliver meals to local schools.

Ian Quill in rural Lincolnshire owns one such pub, The Blacksmith's Arms.

When Max visited mid morning the kitchens were bustling.

"We do 300 to 400 meals a day." Ian said.

"It's done our reputation wonders. It's provided a lot of jobs and it's boosted our buying power with suppliers."

Pie and a pint

Despite the bad news stories and the challenges of the credit crunch some publicans are determined to 'give it a go' the old fashioned way.

Warm welcome - Yeaveley Arms.

They hope a good pint, decent pub grub and a friendly face will pull in those vital customers.

It's been 10 years since locals last heard 'time at the bar' in the village of Yeaveley just outside Ashbourne.

Inside Out was at the Yeaveley Arms for the grand re-opening.

Max concludes that, "There will be casualties but there will always be those who bounce back and fight their way through this recession."