What thing was ruined because it turned into a rich person's hobby?

[NewLion]

attending Premier League football

Gym membership. What used to be the local council sports centre is now privately owned with gym membership starting at £50 per month. There are numerous fitness classes on there at £10+ per session. Would love to pay for a gym membership for my son but just cannot afford it!

One thing that might be making things seem more expensive is because of housing costs working class families have less disposable income than a generation ago.

Another fuckup of selling off assets.
Council housing became a thing to get people out the hands of private landlords and poor quality housing.

Well football tickets are expensive because the players and managers get obscene amounts of money and the clubs pay and receive huge transfer fees. Bit then they also receive tv money, sponsorship and merch fees. Football especially at premier level is a million pound business, fans are just an irritating side line.

Going to Eurocamps with the kids. It’s tripled in the past four years.

I don’t think the riding school is being greedy, they have to pass on costs but it’s makes it less affordable.

And then once you got to 11ish you could work at stables in exchange for rides, all that's stopped now.

As a pp has said, insurance is so expensive.
Riding is a dangerous sport but if someone falls off and hurts themselves badly, can they sue the riding school?

the national cinema screenings of top theatre productions are excellent - the National Theatre, RSC and Royal Opera House all do these.

They're still usually £20 or more at my local cinema - that means some people still can't afford it. It is more accessible than full ticket price, plus travel, accommodation and food that many people would have to add to see them, but it's not necessarily available to some people.

I remember seeing the RSC do the Tempest on a travelling tour at the local school - it must have been mid-late '90s, as I had left school and Dad was there (he died 2001.) I don't remember what the ticket price was (I probably never knew,) and I don't know if the RSC still does that sort of thing, especially as they do now fo live screenings.

Those moaning about the price of cinema tickets, check any mobile phone and TV subscriptions for "perks". Vodafone usually has 2 odeon tickets for £8 / 4 for £16 and some Sky TV packages include 2 free tickets a month.

The insurance is very reasonable for two. They eat good quality cat food. I shouldn't have to justify why we need a cat sitter but we do because we have holidays! Strange phenomenon that.

Whoops double ppst

Yes thats what I mean I think it has always been expensive. And few riding schools can really make it work between the price of land and insurance.

The insurance is reasonable if the cats aren’t old or haven’t got any health conditions . Directly the animals age or get sick the instance is no longer affordable.

Model railways. The young have been priced out. Prices are utterly insane. My DH and DS have both been life long model railway hobbyists. Neither have bought anything new for a decade or longer because of the price rises in the past 10-15 years or so. They've got locomotives that cost £50 or so around 15-20 years ago that are now selling for £200 or more. A Hornby turntable that was £35 (price on the box) is now £90 new. Even second hand prices are insane - that same turntable in good used condition on ebay selling for around £50-£60! There's no way "normal" children can afford that kind of price, so the hobby has turned into an "adult" hobby, for those adults with relatively high disposable income. RRP for some pretty basic Hornby train sets is £250!

It was definitely more affordable in the 80s/90s . Also scruffier but in a good way.
We rode in old ( but suitable) clothes and bought second hand show kit and tack that got passed round and round the local riding community .
Now it’s all Le Mieux and Holland Cooper for children and they’ve all got a thoroughbred they can’t ride.

Advent calendars
Visiting Santa
B&b’s
A haircut
Swimming baths

Is Hornby still on the go?
I though they were in financial trouble. Over pricing might be part of the issue.

Advent calendars have got much more technical than the card version where you opened a door to get a picture of a candle.

Don't think it compares to today's toys or perfume versions.

Santa visits are much more elaborate too, not just standing in a que in the local department store getting a rubbish toy.
People want time slots and decent toys along with a Santa who actually looks like Santa.

Specifically country music gigs. In the last 5 years it’s exploded and the prices are massive.

I used pay £20 for tickets in really cool, small venues. They are now playing £200 stadium gigs.

Please message me thanks

I’d say advent calendars have got much more commercial rather than technical, along with almost everything else to do with Christmas, and in the process we lost the magic along the way.

Why do people do this? Is it supposed to be clever? Funny? It’s neither.

Read the thread title. “What thing was ruined because it turned into a rich person's hobby?” How does your answer make any sense?

Whatever way you describe it today's advent calendars don't compare to a 1980s open a door get a picture.
You thought you were doing great if you managed to get a Santa one with a string to make his arms and legs move 😂

Pre immigration explosion under Blair there was sufficient council housing that some of it was being demolished, same as we had too many schools and some were closed.

Lots of these things mentioned always seemed to be expensive - when was theatre cheap? Lots of other things have got cheaper - tvs, clothes, music if streamed is free.

This! used to be a cheap family break somewhere nice in the summer for a few days. not any more!

The thing is local theatre can be so hit and miss…there are also 5 of us in the family, a mix of ages, girls, boys, etc. Everyone wanted to see Oliver at Christmas which was on the West End but very expensive…ditto Matilda…and Back to the Future…And Starlight Express…these aren’t things available at local theatres. I don’t mind going to small local things by myself or with friends but I’ve yet to go to one where the production is as amazing and immersive as something on the west end, and in all honestly I think my kids would be bored at many of them. Maybe I’m going to the wrong things.