Are Local Pubs Dying Out Where You live..?

[lazarus]

 

It's the 200th anniversary of the Pint...

 

[Phantom51red]

Yep absolutely, the area where I grew up had 3 pubs,now none,replaced by flats,and a small morrison store,lots in town aswell,this was before covid.

[Toy Boy]

I come from a small seaside resort in South Wales, Porthcawl. As a result of the vast seasonal influx of tourists, particularly back in the days of coal mining and Miners' Fortnight, the town is blessed with an unusual number of taverns for its population of just 16,000. As schoolkids about 8 years old, we had to do a project and make a list of all the pubs we could find in the town. I recall that it was over 40, anyway, though I can't recall the exact number. The local council's strategy now seems to be to destroy the tourism side of the place and turn it into a dormitory town for Cardiff. The Coney Beach fairground will close for good next year, having first opened during the Great War to entertain American troops stationed in Porthcawl (hence the name, to remind them of Coney Island back home). The town's main car park, the Salt lake, will be used for housing, with no clear plans to provide replacement parking, which will limit the number of tourists able to access the place. So in the coming years, I won;t be surprised to see a significant reduction in the number of pubs as the council's genius plan to destroy the heart and soul of the town bears fruit.

 

[thegrogmonster]

Yes and I shed a tear everytime a local pub closes.

[Nightcrawler]

In London, many independent pubs have closed, and even more so never recovered during and after Covid.  Its the Chains that have survived like Werherspoons etc, and gastro pubs that rely on food sales. 

Beer and spirits have gone way up.in price and has been difficult for smaller pubs to compete with the competition. 

Weekdays, often the bigger pubs are half empty, apart from.maybe those in the awestruck End. A lot of the pubs near me, in the suburbs often close early through lack of custom but pick up at the weekends. 

Once these pubs are gone, that's it. There are dozens near me within a couple of miles that have been permanent boarded up since Covid  whilst others are struggling.  

The sense of community has gone. It has historically been pubs and churches where people meet socially and both on the decline. Shame really

[Phantom51red]

Khan and sunaks London,there pipe dream will vanish soon me thinks,hopes. 

[Lantern]

There is one pub in the village where I live and also one Bowling Club (that struggles) Can't see the pub closing as a lot of the clientele have a huge disposable income that, a lot of, gets laundered through the pokies.

 

 

[galenkia]

A while back I met a mate in the pub in Bracknell town centre, and he ordered a pint of cider and it was £6.25.

No wonder they are struggling when people have far less disposable income these days.

[Lirchenfeld]

 

[Butch]

11 hours ago, Nightcrawler said:

In London, many independent pubs have closed, and even more so never recovered during and after Covid.  Its the Chains that have survived like Werherspoons etc, and gastro pubs that rely on food sales. 

Beer and spirits have gone way up.in price and has been difficult for smaller pubs to compete with the competition. 

Weekdays, often the bigger pubs are half empty, apart from.maybe those in the awestruck End. A lot of the pubs near me, in the suburbs often close early through lack of custom but pick up at the weekends. 

Once these pubs are gone, that's it. There are dozens near me within a couple of miles that have been permanent boarded up since Covid  whilst others are struggling.  

The sense of community has gone. It has historically been pubs and churches where people meet socially and both on the decline. Shame really

You're still a regular at the Duke of Wellingtons and Comptons in soho I understand.

My home town has seen pubs decimated in recent years. we once boasted a Pub on almost every main street. Shadow of itself now.

I've just returned from my local where I paid £6.40 for a pint of Peroni and a pint of Guinness runs at £6. Same pub on a Saturday I can get 2 meals of an 8oz Steak and chips for £12.

I think Covid did for many as you correctly said @Nightcrawler , but general costs, expenses going up and increased energy bills have done for many of the independents. Supermarket booze is cheap, a decent bottle of Red in a supermarket costs around £12, a crap bottle in a pub costs £15.

You also mention the community spirit has been eroded, and I agree, and along with that the art of socialising and the art of conversation is also in decline.

Gone are the halcyon days of a local pub where it was possible to get a few pints, smoke a pack of Bensons and get a knee trembler round the back from the local prostitute all for under a tenner. Bring on the revolution, that's what I say.

Edited May 25 by Butch

[richy65]

Lots of pubs have disappeared in my local area (Stourbridge UK), most are now mini supermarkets or blocks of flats.

A local brewery called Black Country Ales have brought some of the old dumps and done a good job of refurbishing them. They sell decent ales for around £4 a pint. I always used to drink Guinness but refuse to pay over £5 a pint.

[Aqualung]

It's not just down to covid. Pubs all over the country have been closing for years and years. 

Drinking culture has changed a lot and whilst we all enjoy popping into our local for a few pints the norm these days is drink at home, having bought your tipple from the local supermarket. For example, when i was living in England, I could go into Asda or tesco and buy 8 bottles of Leffe Blonde for £10. The same in the pub would be £30 +. 

It's not just pubs either. Many other traditional shops have disappeared from our high streets and small towns. Butchers, bakeries.... No milk delivered anymore. All replaced with shitty takeaways owned by wrong uns laundering brass.

Big supermarket chains have a lot to answer for tbh. But people need to be careful with their money. 

[richy65]

I'ts true drinking culture has changed and more people drink at home now. I live alone so prefer the pub so I can have a chat and a laugh with a few mates.

[Bazle]

I agree with much of what is said above, e.g. @Butch "You also mention the community spirit has been eroded, and I agree, and along with that the art of socialising and the art of conversation is also in decline." 

The pubs that survive are the ones which have considerable food sales, or appeal to trendy youngsters. 

I think it's also worth mentioning that drinking isn't necessarily the most favoured way of getting a high these days. The kids seem to be into illegal drugs in a big way. 

[Phantom51red]

1 hour ago, Aqualung said:

 

It's not just pubs either. Many other traditional shops have disappeared from our high streets and small towns. Butchers, bakeries.... No milk delivered anymore. All replaced with shitty takeaways owned by wrong uns laundering brass.

 

Shitty takeaways and Albanian barber shops,not Turkish at all as some would like to believe, christ there s another one popped up in centre of Aberdeen where a bar used to be,no idea how they can afford the rent as it really is a prime location in a solid granite building,there no way there taking in even half of what the bar did just impossible.

[Aqualung]

3 minutes ago, Phantom51red said:

Shitty takeaways and Albanian barber shops,not Turkish at all as some would like to believe, christ there s another one popped up in centre of Aberdeen where a bar used to be,no idea how they can afford the rent as it really is a prime location in a solid granite building,there no way there taking in even half of what the bar did just impossible.

Basically, @Phantom51red, what they do is trade as best they can. Borrow money along the way. Sell up or change the name of the business and rinse and repeat. Never repaying a penny of what they owe. And they get away with it. Good old UK! 

[Lemondropkid]

6 hours ago, richy65 said:

A local brewery called Black Country Ales have brought some of the old dumps and done a good job of refurbishing them. They sell decent ales for around £4 a pint

That's fantastic. The newer smaller players taking over old venues and more often converting shops are the hope for the future for me.

Found a couple of excellent micro pubs last month whilst I was back in the UK, like you mention charging a more reasonable price and doing very well.

Agree with pretty much all of the posts above, the missing part is the role the large pub companies play.

Forcing landlords to take the beer and spirits they produce, at inflated prices. Landlord has no choice but to charge an inflated price to the customer.

Long piece below on the Briton's Protection in Manchester. Excellent pub, 300+ years old but not making enough money to satisfy the greed of the the owner Star Inns( Heineken).

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/its-much-loved-corner-manchester-28844194

[Glasseye]

 

I think probably as much as anything issues relating to drunk driving has had a big affect over the years. Not only the moral concerns and the fear of being proscecuted (the cost is enormous for an individual), but the tightening up of dram shop laws. The insurance premiums on a typical bar must be through the roof.

[maipenrai]

16 hours ago, Glasseye said:

 

I think probably as much as anything issues relating to drunk driving has had a big affect over the years. Not only the moral concerns and the fear of being proscecuted (the cost is enormous for an individual), but the tightening up of dram shop laws. The insurance premiums on a typical bar must be through the roof.

I believe this has been the single biggest reason for the demise of the local pub scene where I live - when I was a young man in the '70s we had a thriving night life, but as our town was not that populous but covers a large area, everybody had to drive; many were out every night doing the rounds of the bars and having a great time with a thriving economy driving it and even if you did get caught over the limit, the penalties were light and you could still retain your driving license for work in most cases -  it was a joke to most offenders. Nowadays if you are one beer over the line your whole life is going to change - minimum $1000 fine and one year's suspension, and a huge increase in insurance rates and a criminal record as well. Also, a lot of young people nowadays don't even drive - they don't have licenses and will probably never own a car - why should they when Mom will give them a ride everywhere and we do have a transit system now, although it isn't that effective for many of us. Kids nowadays generally don't drink as much as we used to, anyway, it seems - they can interact socially through their devices and don't mind hanging out at home with their parents, whereas my generation couldn't wait to get away from them. 

I'm lucky to still have two of the old time pubs close to my residence - one just across the highway and the other a 3km drive on open highway; I'm home from both generally no later than 7:00PM so my risks are negligible, but I'm not going to do the 8km drive downtown to the remaining bars there and stay late.
 

[Glasseye]

4 hours ago, maipenrai said:

I believe this has been the single biggest reason for the demise of the local pub scene where I live - when I was a young man in the '70s we had a thriving night life, but as our town was not that populous but covers a large area, everybody had to drive; many were out every night doing the rounds of the bars and having a great time with a thriving economy driving it and even if you did get caught over the limit, the penalties were light and you could still retain your driving license for work in most cases -  it was a joke to most offenders. Nowadays if you are one beer over the line your whole life is going to change - minimum $1000 fine and one year's suspension, and a huge increase in insurance rates and a criminal record as well. Also, a lot of young people nowadays don't even drive - they don't have licenses and will probably never own a car - why should they when Mom will give them a ride everywhere and we do have a transit system now, although it isn't that effective for many of us. Kids nowadays generally don't drink as much as we used to, anyway, it seems - they can interact socially through their devices and don't mind hanging out at home with their parents, whereas my generation couldn't wait to get away from them. 

I'm lucky to still have two of the old time pubs close to my residence - one just across the highway and the other a 3km drive on open highway; I'm home from both generally no later than 7:00PM so my risks are negligible, but I'm not going to do the 8km drive downtown to the remaining bars there and stay late.
 

 

Great post Gord.

Yep, that is why I have planned for years to live where I won't have to drive. The savings is great. The potential problems and cost associated with driving are far too great.

I don't drink as much as in the past, but I still enjoy and like going out from time to time. But, the risks are far too great, and the money I save can go to other things. Also up here in CM the Grab service is very good and relatively cheap. The benefits of this lifestyle far exceed any inconvienances.

[Pumpuynarak]

6 hours ago, maipenrai said:

Nowadays if you are one beer over the line your whole life is going to change - minimum $1000 fine and one year's suspension, and a huge increase in insurance rates and a criminal record as well.

 

2 hours ago, Glasseye said:

Yep, that is why I have planned for years to live where I won't have to drive.

Living in Thailand is a real bonus for me as far as drink driving is concerned, i don't do it anymore as wifey drives but when i did in my early days here (i was never and would never drive when shitfaced) the times i was stopped at a police checkpoint just a tad over the limit i'd just pay 3K baht.............job done lol

The penalties in the west are really painful.