The Journal

Will Your Local Be Next to Close? ; Exclusive One Pub Shuts Every 10 Days in North East

APUB closes every 10 days in the North East as regulars stay at home instead of going out, a Journal investigation has found. The economic crisis, alcohol taxes and cheap supermarket alcohol are all being blamed for a crisis in the pub sector.

We Just Want to Help Families Like Us

2 Day in 2 Minutes: Regional News

Help wanted DURHAM Cathedral is searching for more volunteers to help out as stewards and to welcome visitors from around the world, following an increase in numbers in recent years. The cathedral is holding an open day later this month and Chapter Steward Anne Heywood said: "With more people coming, we need more people to help out."

2 Day in 2 Minutes: Motoring

2 Day in 2 Minutes: Opinion

2 Day in 2 Minutes: Best of the Web

2 Day in 2 Minutes: Home and Abroad

Gladiator arrested POLICE were yesterday investigating claims that a star of the TV show Gladiators attacked a man outside a nightclub. Tornado, real name David McIntosh, 23, was held on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent in Manchester city centre several hours after a nightclub brawl in the early hours of New Year's Day.

2 Day in 2 Minutes: Culture

2 Day in 2 Minutes: Sport

Sales are open NEWCASTLE United boss Joe Kinnear has admitted that most of his January transfer budget will be made up of money raised by player sales.

Police Appeal Over Pregnant Woman ; African Goes Missing Days Before Birth

AHEAVILY-PREGNANT woman whose boyfriend murdered a previous child has gone missing. Northumbria Police are urgently trying to trace Sandra Mujuru, 23, who went missing from her home in Seaton Delaval around the time she was due to give birth.

Someone to Watch Over Us - and Them

SIX standard members have been appointed to ensure North Tyneside councillors continue to act in a professional manner. The independent members will sit on the Standards Committee and they have been put in charge of deciding the outcome of complaints made against councillors.

Region Set to Shiver Over Next Few Days

THE cold snap that has brought a shiver to the region is likely to continue into next week, forecasters predicted last night. Much of the North East woke up to bitter conditions and frost yesterday as overnight temperatures plunged below freezing.

A Northern Pub Closes Every 10 Days ; Exclusive Pub Closures Shock Findings of Journal Investigation

ONE North East pub closes every 10 days, a Journal investigation has discovered. And drinkers are downing nearly a quarter of a million fewer pints every day as they stay at home.

... And It's Going to Get Even Worse in 2009 ; Depression and Recession Are Altering the Pub Landscape. Alastair Gilmour Offers His Barstool Opinion to Anybody Who'll Listen.

THE signs are unmissable on every high street. Development Opportunity. Lease For Sale. High Turnover. It doesn't take a mastermind to realise the licensed trade is in freefall. A combination of the 2007 smoking ban and take-home strong, cheap lager has tightened throats and loosened purses to the advantage of the supermarket. Add poor weather over the past two summers, credit crunch debts, personal finance chasms and job insecurity then watch as the bar chart takes a downward spiral.

North Today: Power Black-Out ; Electricity

LARGE sections of Ponteland were hit by a power black-out last night following a fault on an electricity cable. Around 1,600 homes in Ponteland and Darras Hall were left without power soon after 8pm.

North Today: Homes Evacuated ; Fire

HOUSEHOLDERS were evacuated from their homes in the early hours of New Year's Day after a fire caused a gas leak. Fire crews were called to the rear of Albion Place in Willington, County Durham, at around 1.20am after reports of a rubbish fire.

North Today: Bowled Over ; Sport

North Today: Sales Rush ; Retail

North Today: Arson Attacks ; Crime

Tough Times for Landlords ; Pub Closures

A NORTHUMBERLAND landlord last night said pub owners were struggling in the current climate. Colin Reid, 62, has owned the Ye Olde Cross Inn on Narrowgate, Alnwick, for more than 20 years, but is facing the darkest days of his care er.