IF YOU can’t beat them, join them.

That’s the policy being adopted by Macclesfield landlords struggling to compete with Saturday night shows the X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing.

Sue and John Souness, from Porter’s (Prince of Wales), on Roe Street, Macclesfield say the popular television programmes have left them fighting for trade at the weekend as customers prefer to spend Saturday nights in front of the box rather than at the bar.

So Sue says they have decided to screen the shows on Saturday and Sunday nights. They are also holding an X-Factor Special on Sundays with red and white wine by the bottle for £5.95 to draw drinkers in during the X-Factor results show.

And to keep the men happy, they are showing Match Of The Day 2 at 10pm on Sunday nights too.

Sue said: "We believe that the X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing are having an effect on the weekend pub trade in Macclesfield and its surrounding areas. At weekends people tend to stay at home to watch the shows with a drink before venturing out later on. So with a view to combat this and an ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ attitude, we have decided to try and draw customers in by screening the shows and putting on different drinks offers."

Dionne Palin, assistant manager at the White Lion pub, on Mill Street, in Macclesfield agreed that it can be a battle to prise people from their armchairs and into the pubs at the weekends.

She said: "We show the programmes on our screen when they’re on at the weekend and I think that does attract customers. Many pubs are struggling because of the recession and people are buying alcohol from the supermarkets and having a night in in front of the television instead. As a result we’re having to do more to attract people and screening these programmes is a way of bringing people through the doors."

Bev Lythaby, licensee of the Dolphin on Windmill Street, in Macclesfield said: "We already show the programmes at our pub. On Saturday and Sunday we have the men sat on one side watching the football and shouting at the screen and the women in the other side watching X-Factor. While I’ve never really thought about it, I suppose showing these programmes at the pub does draw more customers in or encourage our regulars to come in and have a drink while watching the shows rather than sitting at home to watch them."