Do you thin there is a market for alcohol-free pubs?

[Dancergirl]

Dh thinks it's a crap idea.

I was thinking of a proper pub with a good atmosphere but completely alcohol-free. People can go and hang out and see their friends and enjoy a mocktail or smoothie.

But you won’t wouldnt sit and have drink after drink of anything but boozes. Like how many mock tails would you want? I can’t see a long lazy pub afternoon happening if everyone only has one or two drinks. The pub would make about £2.50

Here in multicultural Leicester, we have lots of alcohol-free ‘Pubs’. They are called ‘dessert parlours’ or ‘shisha lounges’. These businesses are run by local Asian businesspeople and they appear to be thriving part of the city’s night-time economy.

They serve the same purpose as pubs, ie they are a place to meeting socialise over drinks & food outside the home. Some are upmarket places serving fancy mocktails. They just don’t serve alcohol, that’s all.

A few examples :
en-gb.facebook.com/abudanielshisha/
aljumeirah.co.uk/

heavenlydesserts.co.uk/our-stores/

I would love to have one close to me.

I think so for sure. It's not just the alcohol free drinks you can order in normal pubs but the alcohol free atmosphere and comradeship that you don't have to drink.

In Central London it's a coffee shop. Late evening hours too.

They are called ‘dessert parlours’ or ‘shisha lounges’.

But that's not a pub. Many an alcohol free bar would be better with music.

*mabey

Like this?

I would love a decent indie coffee shop to open late rather than a pub, I would much prefer to go there in the evening with friends.

BonnieF there are loads of these places in Bradford and younger Muslims do seem to use them in very much the same way pubs are used, is social nighttime hubs.

There a few dry bars around which are run by people in recovery.

Attitudes towards alcohol are changing massively

This is what I was thinking.

There's a whole movement about alcohol-free alcohol. There's a dry bar in the Northern quarter in Manchester and a few in London; more popping up all the time.

There are also several well-invested alcohol-free "spirits" like Seedlip (£30 a bottle alcohol-free "gin").

A high percentage of millenials are teetotal and businesses are trying to cash in on it.

I'd like it

Erm, no.

I mean, we're all trying to get healthier, people are giving up smoking and thinking more carefully about what they eat. Why not cut out alcohol but still have a fun evening out?

Because you can go to a pub and not drink alcohol

You can go into any pub and don't need to drink alcohol and have a good time.

That Temperance bar linked doesn't sell alcohol but you can BYOB

We sort of have them here - coffee, milkshakes, pool table, darts and great desserts. Mostly Asian teens hanging out, but my kids did a bit before they discovered that none of the proper pubs care about Id her (around 16 years old). It doesn't really work because if you want a proper pub atmosphere, you don't have to drink - going to a dry pub will be only those making a point

Should say, lots of these coffee bar hybrids open past midnight

Well a quick Google shows that a few exist already so maybe not that ridiculous an idea..somewhere that sells decent, non-sweet alcohol free options sounds good to me. I’m not totally convinced it would survive for long though. Would need to serve really good food as well I would think.

MNers could never take a shisha bar, though, because they all gag from a whiff of smoke a mile away.

Totally would go

you can go into any pub and don't need to drink alcohol and have a good time

For ppl with alcohol dependancy that can be hard. Even without dependancy it's to be around non drunk people.

It's like going to a restaurant when your on a diet and eating a salad while others have spare ribs. If there was a healthy eating restaurant you all ate the same it's more fun.

Great idea, would def go. I get it and know people that would def go as well.

There definitely is. I can think of at least 50people off the top my head who would jump at something like that but you’ll canvass opinions and pitch surveys at where people who don’t drink alcohol are and it’s not Mumsnet.

Your idea sounds fantastic with different non alcoholic drinks in a nightclub setting with great music. Costa is not what non alcohol drinking people are looking for on a night out.