39
by Percy plunkett
We took a short lease on Bar Amber,it proved to be highly successful on match days but,empty the rest of the week.The previous owner of the Ivy,who I think is a County fan,gave that as his decision to close it,it was unsustainable.Talking of County fans,didn’t another one,who used to have the Royal Mail,run the Riverside for a while.Why did he leave,probably for the same reason as the Ivy guy.We had a lease on the King in Lliswerry,as a pub it was losing money.We took it on because we used it for office space,boardroom,storage for kit and shop stock.The SC and Lifeline Society had a room there also.It would have costed more to hire separate accommodation for these other things so,taking on a pub meant that the small bar takings helped to fund the rest.When we came back to Newport we relinquished the King as we now had space at Spytty for club requirements.Pubs are a dying breed and will continue to struggle to survive.I live in Rogerstone,there were once ten pubs that I can remember,there are now two left.Anyone reading this can probably list many watering holes that are no more.Ask yourselves why,before you suggest taking on the Riverside.