Devon and Cornwall pub owners taking a 'leap of faith'

Dan Cocks and Viki Roberts, from the Edgcumbe Arms, said they "enjoy a challenge"

It is mid-morning and there is an air of activity around the historic Edgcumbe Arms in south-east Cornwall.

A man is up a ladder retouching the paint work outside on the upstairs windows.

Inside, landlord Dan Cocks and landlady Viki Roberts are gearing up for another day's trading.

Ms Roberts said they had previously run a smaller pub in Launceston but their new venture was a "challenge".

"I was quite nervous to start with, this is a beautiful location but it's a big pub to manage," she said.

"We enjoy a challenge."

The pub had been closed since October last year while St Austell Brewery looked for new managers

Mr Cocks agreed it was "difficult" to take on a pub in the current climate.

"Energy costs, VAT, all these costs that everyone talks about, and people can buy big packs of beer for knock down money in supermarkets, that's what we're up against," he said.

The 18th Century pub on the banks of the River Tamar had been closed since October last year while St Austell Brewery looked for new managers.

According to the British Beer and Pub Association, 530 pubs closed in the UK last year.

But Ms Roberts and Mr Cocks said they were confident they could make a go of things.

"We're a St Austell tenant pub in the current climate and with this location that gives us a real advantage," Mr Cocks said.

"This is a great social space, and we want to get the Edgcumbe Arms back as a community pub."

Jordan Turfrey and Alicia Read run Eighteen87 in Plymstock

Community is also a word you hear a lot at Eighteen87 in the Plymstock area of Plymouth.

Formerly known as the Morley Arms, Eighteen87 has undergone an extensive facelift before being relaunched by leaseholders Jordan Turfrey and Alicia Read.

"We are a freehouse so we aren't tied to any brewery," Mr Turfey said.

"We can buy from local suppliers like Summerskills across the road, so we get the best deals and try and pass that on to the customers."

Ms Read added: "Here it's like a community.

"We've met a lot of new people from Plymstock, we've been welcomed with open arms."

Emma McClarkin, from the British Beer and Pub Association, acknowledged trading conditions were tough

The couple acknowledged opening a pub in the present climate was "scary", but they were confident they could make it work.

The pub is planning a summer of community events such as family fun days and garden parties to support local charities.

Ms Read said: "It's hard work and we've got to put our all into it but I think it will be worth it in the end."

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, acknowledged trading conditions were tough but said pubs still had a future.

"We do hope that 2024 is the year for stabilisation in the pub trade," she said.

"The people that take a risk, that make that leap of faith, that open up their dream pub, get their support from their local community keep communicating with them - hopefully they will have great returns coming in."

The government said it was helping pubs by freezing alcohol duty until August, providing a package of relief on business rates and offering support on energy costs.