(old gimmer alert) to miss going to the Pub?

[Mintyy]

Obvs when the dc came along my social life was very much curtailed. But in the 12 years since I had my first child, ordinary run-of-the-mill nightlife has really changed SO much. And now when I go out in the evenings its all a bit bewildering. For starters, a glass of wine is at least £5!

I like pubs. Pubs that were on the corners of ordinary London streets with juke boxes, lounge bars and saloon bars, nothing to eat except packets of crisps and peanuts, locals, cigarette machines, ashtrays, a chucking out time of 11.30 except if you were mates with the landlords and got a lock-in.

Oh nostalgic sigh.

Now maybe the problem here is London. Coz where I live ( in the sticks) the pub is still a good place to go and be social with who ever is there. It's easiest if you go the same night of the week fairly regular, coz then you see more or less the same people each time. I enjoy a good yarn with various neighbours most Friday nights . I do late shift ( 9pm till close) after DH has done early shift ( 7-9 ) with his grumpy old men pub buddies.

There's loads of pubs like that up here.

There's one nearish that has a free jukebox though it is frequented by some utter knobs.

And you can get a bottle of Blossom Hill or equivalent for about £7/8.

2 bottles and I'm legless. And still enough left for a bag of chips and the bus home.

I don't go out much though.

I miss proper pubs too. Pool, juke boxes and cigarettes. My favourite pub in Southampton when I was a student had enough Bob Dylan albums to keep going all evening

The problem is that I don't smoke anymore and can't handle my beer so even if I could find a proper local it wouldn't be the same.

YANBU.

But,what is an "old gimmer". This phrase is not part of common parlance where I live.

You have to come to the cuntry!

My local (although I don't go there that much -not really a drinker) is a hotbed of village gossip, has lock ins and is quite cheep!

I think it's just city life that's killed the pubs in city's.
No sense of community

Not just pubs though. I miss going to "indie clubs" which probably don't even exist now, and having my nose pierced and thinking I looked the dogs bollocks, and being chatted up by "cool" young men. And pints of stella, sticky floors, drunken conversations, staying out until the club kicking out time, knowing the words to songs....

Gah! I'm old and past it! And I wish I was a size 8 as well...

We used to have a wonderful pub in our village. Complete with the lock-ins. Bit of a barmy family running it but that was half the fun.

Then new people who wanted to run an upmarket gastro pub / restaurant bought it and very soon made it clear to the locals that we weren't welcome there just to drink. "I can make £50 a head off people sitting at this table having a meal."

Zombie hasn't been in there for probably 6 years now. It's a great pity as it really took the heart out of the village. Sadly, they seem to still be doing well enough to carry on.

I am sitting here positively wallowing in nostalgia - I may even shed a tear soon and get my old photos out!
I was the captain of the pool team you know and when we played against a Club as in working men's club, not night club, I used to have to get two big bouncer types to persuade people dispensation from the Committee because there was "no women in the bar" and on one occasion I actually sat in the lounge and they came and called me to take each shot during my match. I found it hilarious, although I daresay these days the feminists (and most women with any sense) would be frothing a bit at the blatant discrimination.
There must be some people here from the north east who are "of a certain age" and used to go out round town in Hartlepool? I can date someone by which name they call the various pubs too
So if they remember Caspers, or The Gem, or Asters or Oscars or Blondes or The Clanny or The Grange, or the Queen Victoria and the Helena (pronounced Hell-eena) or if they are younger and know Loons and Flares and 5th Avenue and Fibber McGinty's

Worked behind a bar last night for the first time in about 7 years.

Very weird when I came to clean down - and realised there were no ashtrays to empty and wash.

Smoking ban killed pubs dead IMO.

Yep, they've poncified many pubs round these parts, but I'm lucky, my local is still flowery carpeted, massive fire, great staff, music some nights, quiz etc. Of course you still have to smoke outside and the heaters are rubbish (smoker), so I only go in there and have a couple on my way home from work or shopping sometimes, I still enjoy it though.

:)

I sat at my parents pub the other month with dry roasted peanuts, pint of cider and in front of the wood burner. Bliss

try going to the pub here in Australia.

A British sized pint of beer can cost £8+ due to alcohol taxes . i drink less now...