There are few institutions so central to Britain's culture and way of life as the local public house. Try to imagine Coronation Street without The Rover's Return, Emmerdale without The Woolpack or EastEnders without The Queen Vic. Outside the home the pub is the most popular place for British people of all ages and classes to relax and socialise. And yet pubs are under pressure. Pubs are now closing at a rate of 14 a week and, although this is down on the 52 a week closure rate in the first half of 2009, closures remain at historically high levels. Pubs have been hit by a perfect storm: adverse winds coming from multiple directions have combined to wreak havoc on the trade. The author argues that community pubs need more public support.