Why are so many pubs closing down?

[Spangles1963]

I was listening to a radio phone-in programme last night about the number of pubs in Britain closing down. Apparently it's an average of 20 per week! Now,I'm not a regular pub visitor nowadays,although I was in my twenties and early thirties (in my mid 50s now).I probably go to a Wetherspoons about once every couple of months these days. But I was shocked to hear this figure quoted. At this rate,there'll be none left within a few years. Just out of interest,I did a tally of how many pubs I could think of in the area I live that have closed down in the last few years. It was 8! Various factors have been blamed for the demise of pubs,from the smoking ban,to the availability of cheap alcohol in supermarkets. What do MNers think is the reason,and has anyone else noticed so many pubs closing down near where they live?

I genuinely don’t know anyone under the age of 40 who regularly go to pubs

its strange that the smoking ban had such an impact though as there are lots of trendy bars where you cant smoke and lots of coffee shops where you cant smoke, and they seem to be thriving. I hadn't realised how much pubs were linked with smoking really.

We used to all meet in the pub two or three times a week.
It was always busy in 90's but the kids now don't do that.
Times are more expensive so with kids staying home is easier.
Men used to pop in for a pint on way home, not done now.
Less profit in running a pub, so less staff more hours for owners... So landlords leave.

We (both aged 40+) use a couple of local pubs quite regularly, both of those don't serve food and aren't child friendly but they have live music at least twice a week. I guess it's mainly 40+ using pubs as DCs are grown up/old enough to look after themselves.

Pubs seem to have got a little busier in the last couple of years. There was a dip after the smoking ban and a few closed but that mainly affected working mens clubs imo. The live music pub scene where I live is pretty good.

£7.50 for a standard glass of indifferent wine probably has a lot to do with it

Lots of reasons;

1. Younger people (millenials especially) don't have such a big drinking culture due to more healthier lifestyle focus and because alcohol in pubs (with the exception of Wetherspoons) is expensive.

2. The smoking ban has changed pub culture.

3. More Muslim areas so not likely to be frequent pub goers (alcohol being haram) and therefore pubs in large demographically Muslim areas will close down.

4. The cost of drinking generally - everything has become so expensive, who can afford to spend money on a few pints these days!!!??

I would add to that;

5. Business rates and rents mean that it's probably not cost effective to run a pub these days (no profit).

The smoking ban, and the fact that it's much cheaper to sit at home and drink.

The pubs that do really well round here
One has live music every weekend, events like beer festivals, in a really good darts league and also has pool and skittles leagues, open mike evenings and quiz.
Another does decent food, nice coffee and afternoon tea, has a huge modern function room and landscaped garden so great for weddings. It also has another outdoor area with a great play area and lots of nice comfy seating and gazebo.
Both are independently owned.

it's too expensive and most people don't have time to sit in pubs drinking.
it's nothing new, there has been a steady decline since the 90's.

In my teens/20s it was a cheap night out when you couldn’t afford to do anything else. Now it’s a fortune.
Poor public transport makes a difference if you can’t get back at night (I know a small town near me where this is a big issue).

My FIL blamed the smoking ban for the demise of his local pubs. However he only used to go to his local for the odd pint and drank considerably more at home.

I live in a city with a big drinking culture. I'm not seeing many pub closures round here. However, I agree the demographic has changed to older customers. There aren't as many young people and students in the pubs any more. There is definitely a move towards bars, often with a theme or USP of some sort (Home Alone themed bar is my favourite so far).

Is the number of pubs closing related to the number of coffee shops opening?

I do think the rise of the mid priced chain restaurant had an impact, though they are in trouble now too.

Millennials drink much less than previous generations, so I think there is a lot less demand for pub culture.

It's a trip back to 1973, including the carpet, the ethnic diversity and the casual sexism and racism.

^I agree with this.

It's not just the smoking ban (although the health nuts that pushed for it turn out not to be drinkers), but the pubcos that deliberately run their premises into the ground so they can sell them to property developers.

We have two good pubs near us and one not so good and numerous good restaurants. Well off rural area with many retired people.

However the pubs and restaurants are usually busy serving food in the evenings and there are many walking and cycling groups who stop off for lunch.

Weekend lunches are very busy often with people of all ages from out of area

I am always amazed at how much busier pubs are at this time of year. Where is everyone the rest of the year? If you don't go to pubs very often then you can't really complain about them closing.

Millennials generally have shittier jobs and a lot less disposable income than their parents generation. The pub can be an expensive prospect when rent is due.

They do have a lot more options for entertainment too, why would they spend £50 on a night in the pub when that could spend it on a PS4 game that'll keep them entertained every night for 6 months?

Has anyone mentioned on line dating? I'm sure the fact that they don't need to go out to the bar/club to meet prospective partners has an impact also.

I think people overstate the impact of the smoking ban. Fewer and fewer people are smoking these days anyway. Two pubs near me banned smoking on their premises a year before the national ban came in and their footfall increased massively as most people preferred not stinking like an ashtray when they got home.

If you want to blame people then direct your ire at the tennant pub companies who treat their landlords like shit and force them to buy beer and wine at massively inflated costs while not bothering to maintain their properties.

Throw into the mix the high tax on beer, cost of drink at supermarkets, younger people drinking less and the lurch towards child friendly gastro pubs which makes having a quiet pint with a mate almost impossible and the general lack of front of house training so you are getting served by some disinterested person in their phone it does not bode well.

That said, there are some cracking free house pubs still out there and I shall continue to booze in them.

Price point is the primary factor, going to get a round of 5 drinks in my local is 30 quid. That's insane

Spoons et al seem to be doing fine

Another massive part of it is that most pubs are shit. Shit and expensive is a poor long term strategy

Cheap booze in supermarkets

The young generation of school leavers are now drinking less and spending more time on social media instead of meeting in person

Not sure about the smoking ban as I thought less people smoke now anyway and those that do smoke are used to going outside to do so everywhere

Younger people drink less in general, so you haven't got new generations of casual drinkers popping by in the week etc. I am 25, none of my friends or myself ever go to a pub - we don't drink regularly and would prefer to go out for a nice meal.

I must say micro-breweries near me are doing well. Independent, quiet and reasonably priced drinks appealing to the over 40s market.

Last time I went to a pub early evening it was dead with music playing FULL BLAST! Who the fuck too, I wanted to talk to my friends. This is why coffee places do well.

I think there are loads of reasons pubs have had their day:
Cheaper alcohol in supermarkets
Drink driving laws means you have to go somewhere in walking distance
Netflix means there is constant entertainment of whatever you want
Smokers would rather drink at home so they can smoke
Some younger people aren't that into alcohol and this figure has risen

To be honest if they depended on me they would have gone bust a long time ago.