More than 20 pubs in the Preston area are on the market in a huge £1.7m sell-off with leases up for grabs worth between £20,000 and £275,000 each.

Soaring costs and high taxes are being blamed for the decline of the local pub and today bosses in the city issued a stark warning the traditional local could die out within three years.

And they said traditional back-street pubs would have to move into other areas, such as opening post offices or shops in their premises, if they wanted to pull in the punters.

The grim picture comes just months after the Evening Post revealed pubs in Preston are now closing at a rate of one a month.

Graham Rowson, landlord of the Plungington Hotel, Preston, said he is planning to start running corporate days for businesses using the pub's bowling green.

He said: "I think it is the way it has got to go because there is so little profit in alcohol. The perception is that it costs £3 for a pint so the landlords must be making a fortune, but it is not, it's the taxman. The pubs have got to look at diversification."

Some North West pubs have already turned parts of their premises into barber shops and even a laundrette.

Ronnie Fitzpatrick, chairman of Preston's Licensed Victuallers Association and landlord of the Dog and Partridge in Friargate, said: "We have to do something or there will be nothing left. We will just have the big, massive pub companies and they are a different thing altogether from pubs.

"I see, within two or three years, a severe lack of pubs."

Mr Fitzpatrick blamed rising costs, saying: "Running a pub is expensive. The whole thing, even food with the recent price increases, plus we have added costs. With people smoking outside we have to provide lights, heaters and smoking shelters."

Regional director for the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Ray Jackson said: "Pubs are going to have to have a dual role. They have to survive."

Preston once boasted 365 pubs, but now there are fewer than half that number.

Those up for sale include:

Black Bull, Station Road, Bamber Bridge
Tom Finney, Central Drive, Penwortham
Pear Tree, Station Road, Bamber Bridge
McKenzie Arms, Station Road, Bamber Bridge
Plough Inn, Pope Lane, Penwortham
Black Bull, Leyland
New Ship Inn, Watery Lane, Ashton, Preston
Talbot Arms, Talbot Street, Chipping
Seven Stars, Leyland
Moorbrook Inn, North Road, Preston
Belle Vue, New Hall Lane, Preston
Lime Kiln, Aqueduct Street, Preston
Derby Arms, Carrs Green, Inskip
Old Original Seven Stars, Leyland

Six other unnamed Preston pubs are also advertised online.

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