ANNA Christopherson and her husband Mike own Boda Bar, Sofi's and Victoria in Leith, and Joseph Pearce's and Hemma in Edinburgh.

She said: "Over an eight-year period on Leith Walk, where we have three pubs, we've experienced a steep decline in footfall, reducing the passing trade that a pub could hope easily to attract.

"The success of our business relies on making the pub more of a destination. As well as providing fantastic drinks, that meant putting on events and services to create a community of regulars. We offer activities as diverse as jogging clubs, knitting, baking, clothes swaps, language classes, film nights and even an internet radio show. We offer services and events that in the past had been offered by local churches, community centres and organisations like the Women's Institute.

"The result has been that we have people who come in to try something they'll think they would enjoy, and then they come back.

"They gradually become our friends. For us, that's important, to be part of a community in a really urban area. When we moved here it was difficult to find that, but if you're to thrive today you need to give something a little extra and make the pub the heart of the area you're in, which is welcoming to everyone."