A proposal by South Cambridgeshire Council could help to boost pub furniture sales in the area, as well as ensuring the fixtures and fittings of existing establishments are kept off the scrapheap.
The authorities have been tackling the problem of allowing pubs to be converted into shops without requiring planning permission - something which, in recent years, has seen an ever-increasing number of public houses replaced by convenience stores.
Now the council is taking back control and ensuring it is able to say no to such plans, if it would mean the closure of a pub valued highly by local residents, or the last establishment in any particular area.
Councillor Nick Wright, South Cambridgeshire District Council's cabinet member for economic development, said: "We all know how hard it has been for the pub industry, but equally there is also recognition of the vital role village pubs play at the heart of communities.
"I'm really pleased we are going to be able to be able to let people have their say on the issue and I hope we will be able to stop pubs using the freedoms allowed in national planning rules to convert and even knock down pubs, without any consultation with local people."
The proposals will not entirely outlaw the conversion of a pub into a shop; however, they are designed to ensure that the business case and potential community impact of doing so can be properly assessed and taken into account before the go-ahead is given by the planning authorities.
As a result, it is likely that more pubs will remain open for longer, rather than being 'hijacked' as a source of retail space at the heart of the community.
Where planning permission is sought but rejected, it could also see pubs change hands to a new landlord, rather than being closed down or demolished completely, and this is also good news for the pub furniture industry.
Many of these newly protected pubs are likely to be traditional public houses at the very heart of their local community, and as a result it will be important not only to protect the outer shell of the building, but to ensure they are equipped with pub furniture suitable to their heritage status.