I'm happy pubs are dying out

[Raymondsam]

In my town at least.

Maybe decades ago the argument could be made that they're social hubs for people to unwind, meet and have a good time on a weekend.

Nowadays they're just hovels where mostly retired old boys go to binge drink in the daytime and cost the NHS billions in the various cancers strokes and host of other comorbidities that crop up.

The three biggest ones in my town are the typical chain owned leasehold places. Big companies that own hundreds of pubs all over the country. They treat the leaseholders like crap, if they start to turn a decent profit they up the rent.

Not being frequented by the “wealthy and upmarket” is surely a plus point!

So OP when you were 17/18 what sorts of pubs did you go drinking in? Where would you now go out on an evening? Would you still visit pubs or do you just drink in restaurants

I love a quirky pub or a lovely country pub.

You are making the mistake that these are the only people who go to the pub. How silly. You should get out more.

I also think that traditional pubs will become ever more popular. There’s growing interest in British traditions. We are seeing a big increase in attendance at CofE churches. www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/church-england-attendance-rises-fourth-year I’ve noticed a big increase in interest in my works around British myths and legends and traditional story telling. I’m sure traditional British pubs will see increased interest. The ones round us are packed esp in the summer (tourist destination). If Labour actually wanted to support people in Britain they could start by lowering the burden on the hospitality industry. It would look like they were supporting British traditions and also giving people a bit more of an ability to go out and enjoy themselves whilst propping up jobs.

YABVVU and you are also being nasty, ageist and smug beyond belief.

The alcohol tax raised from pub drinkers far, far outweighs the possible (nb "possible") costs to the NHS.

What a nasty little mind you have OP.

HTH

What I object to is people advocating for the decline of an entire sector because they personally don’t like it or want to use it. It’s selfish and shortsighted. There are plenty of things in society that I don’t enjoy or use but I’m not selfish or self centred enough to think everyone feels the same.

👏👏👏👏👏👏

Well said @HighLadyofTheNightCourt

@localnotail I get it. You don't like pubs, so don't go to them, and let those who enjoy the convivial atmosphere of a nice pub enjoy them without your sour negativity to spoil it for them.

There are lots of things in life that don't appeal to me - all inclusive holidays, horse racing, football, for example but I don't go around saying that no-one else should enjoy them and that these establishments should close down or be banned because I am a grown up and understand that other people have different tastes to me.

Stop being so closed minded and self centered.

Out of all the pubs I've worked in and frequented over the years you'd be surprised at the different clientele you get throughout the day.

This is just one day in the life of the pub I used to work in.

The old boys first thing with their paper who by lunch time are off on their way, the office workers at lunchtime who by 2pm are back to work, the afternoon drinkers who may have gone into town and are now on their way home, the businessmen having business meetings in the pub, the tradesmen who finish at 4pm who stop for a pint or two after work, the office workers stopping by after work before their train home who may or may not stay all night, the friends meeting for a catch up, the late shifts stopping for a drink before going home, the off duty police, the army squaddies out for a night. The Jags and Porsches in the car park.

Are you saying none of these people are upmarket?

WTF? 😳

Another British thing down the bin. Some really are up for destroying this country’s culture. What is setting this country from others apart is fast in extinction. My friends all want to come here and visit the pubs and have a pint as a fun experience of our culture.

Many pubs are still very important as social hubs. They also often serve a lot of nonalcoholic drinks too. Some are old men's clubs but many are not. Village pubs often also serve food. Last week my band played as part of a festival at a pub supporting a local hospice. Family's, young and old all enjoying the day and contributing to the community. What's not to like.

The only appropriate response here. Love your username too 👌

Another shit and run thread.

Controversial first post, and then nothing from op

Thats the wonderful thing about pubs, the diverse nature of the people who frequent them -if you go to a proper pub, like you say, you will see all walks of life using them, they are so important to British culture. We need to ensure we keep using them and supporting them.

At a time when we are talking more and more about division in society pubs are a great place for integration, people chatting, getting to know others in your community. They really are a social hub and can play a massive role in integrating society for people from all backgrounds grounds.i don’t really drink, but pubs serve loads of non-alcoholic drinks these days

These type of people have always been around. It's just that workingmens clubs have been replaced by spoons and the like.
I'd like right wing thinking to disappear but that's not going to happen either.

Maybe the issue is the area you live in! I live on the edge of a town now and like to walk to the neighbouring village which has three absolutely lovely pubs that I wish were busier than they are but when it costs £13.50 for a glass of wine and a pint! There's some beautiful pubs closing down around Lincolnshire where I live, some of them were the only pub these villages had.

Let me repeat pubs are not closing because of lack of custom. They are suffering due to ridiculous costs thrust upon them by a government who now wants to get more unskilled people into work IN WHAT INDUSTRY 🙇‍♀️

Inflationary rates, business rates, tax, NI, Min wage, energy costs. All of which are compounded by consecutive useless govts.

Well as a recently retired woman in my early sixties I would be very upset. I love going into my local city and seeking out interesting pubs and research their history, have a small beer and a light lunch and sometimes meet new people.

I am with you on the huge, soulless chain, I never use them!

Fucking hell, you need to get out more.......in a Wetherspoons 😂

It takes a special kind of c*nt to want to remove the ability to socialise from "retired old boys" knowing that loneliness and isolation is a killer for older people.

I mean if we’re going down the they cost the NHS, let’s shut all in Indians with their ghee overuse, Chinese restaurants with their MSG, fast food outlets, all those bloody dessert places open late into the night, that amount of fat and sugar is awful.

Maybe where you live. In my village, they really are a social hub. We have three and they all get involved in community activities, have live music, do charity work, have excellent food and provide beautiful places to sit and enjoy social time. They'd be a massive loss if they closed; luckily they won't because they are heavily used.

Yep, I know a group of those "boys" who meet up. All widowed/divorced/never married. Some live in HMOs with people a third of their age. The pubs are a lifeline for them.

There seems to be a spate of threads like this on MN recently. The "I hate all weddings" thread was deleted, but there have been others. Why do people do this?

Why start a thread wishing that a chain of shops closes, all shopping malls are banned, all pubs close, all weddings are banned, then disappear?

They are not . There is live music in our local this eve- I rang to try and reserve seats as ten of us are going - I was told that there are only 3 seats free in thr whole pub - the rest of the pub is booked up for meals before the music starts. Was told to just try and find somewhere to stand !

Also - out local lay minister goes into out pubs in the vilage - he supports people, for whom the pub is a lifeline that way - it’s brilliant.!