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.

Well said, ours is used exactly as you described plus more

I am in recovery and never drank in pubs. Now sober I love a pub lunch with a non alcoholic drink - especially in the summer and seeing how busy our local gets I am not the only one.

Sounds like you live in a shit area tbh

It’s not lack of customers “killing” pubs, it’s ridiculous business rates, National insurance, Minimum wage increases, utilities, food increases.

Actually, the press doom and gloom is not a true reflection of the pub trade, it’s just that to try and get the govt listening, and seeing how important hospitality is, it comes across this way.

You will see exactly the same thing being said about cafes and restaurants as well but the great British pub has been an institution so it’s more headline grabbing. It also resonates with “Everyman” in a way that Tom Kerridge or Gordon Ramsey closing a restaurant doesn’t.

Kill joy!!

That’s sad - pub are part of your culture. I couldn’t imagine uk without pubs

Whats that got to do with pubs? If anything re your point, cycling and golf would be the issue....

I agree Britain binge drink culture is hopefully going to die out. I love the fact that my DDs and their friends are more interested in going to the gym or out for lunch. My town does a discount at the gym for over sixties there’s loads of pensioners accessing the council gyms, they have made their own little community.

I agree. Our local, non chain, pub in our village has been managed by the same landlord and landlady for over 30 years.

They do quiz nights, music nights, Sunday lunches, funeral wakes, weekly lunches for pensioners and host book clubs and MacMillan coffee mornings amongst other things.

I notice the OP has posted a goady first post then done a runner. Maybe they are jealous that we don't all live in rough areas with hovels for pubs.

Can I be honest? I have a secret love for shitty old boozers (or “hovels”) and traditional pub culture. And (arrest me now), I still, every so often, like to get utterly shitfaced.

Nearly every great, long-lasting friendship I’ve formed as an adult was signed, sealed, and cemented, in a pub, after several drinks.

If you think yhd UK is bad, Yoire going to be shocked at South East Asia.

Pubs are bleak, rundown shitholes. Have you noticed they always look dark even on a Summer's day and there are still people in there? Then there are the gambling fruit machines for dumb people to waste their wages when intoxicated/lacking capacity to make the choice.

Yeah, the minute someone walks in, the piano stops playing and everyone looks around.

Ive never been much of a pub goer, especially in the past when you were allowed to smoke. They never made much sense to me, probably because I travelled as a single. I can remember going into them in London but only to take the weight off my fet for a bit and quench my thirst. My memories of them as a social place was going with a group from work and getting stiffed over "kitties". I cant recall the last time I was in one. I dont even know where the nearest one is.

@Raymondsam - are you going to engage with your own thread?

Many pubs are nothing like you e described, so you are definitely BU.

Nothing nicer than a lovely country pub - perfect in the winter for a roaring fire and a great roast dinner, equally so in the summer with a good beer garden in the sunshine.

I think the decline of decent pubs is actually quite sad. They’ve been an historical part of our landscape and more should be done to try to keep them going. Keeping a good pub going is hard work, I don’t envy the landlords for the amount of work it takes.

I literally had no "attitude" as I never been to the typical pub before coming to this country - all the pubs abroad are Irish ones, quite different.

My resentment grew over years as my ex went to pubs frequently so I went with him until deciding I cant be wasting my evenings like that. The pubs we went to had "regulars", same people going there all the time; bingo nights; visiting "artists" - usually rowdy drag acts; and pissy ale beer. I don't drink beer, don't like drag acts, don't like football and can't be asked talking to the same people about same crap over and over again...

edited - fat finger typing

I know - but where I live (east London) most are being transformed into more upmarket drinking places, still pub-like but definitely not pubs.

Not all pubs are like this.
I spent the afternoon in one of my local pubs yesterday. It’s a gorgeous country pub - well decorated with lots of windows. Not a single fruit machine in sight.

I saw multiple friends and acquaintances as Sunday afternoon in the pub is very much a thing where we live. It was lovely.
Nothing bleak about it at all.

We’ll do the same again next week.

Not all pubs. Many pubs are in very old buildings and very old buildings are dark with small windows. But lots of pubs aren't like that. One of my local Wetherspoons has two whole walls of glass that open right up in summer. Plus there are loads of pub gardens. And in winter, a cosy pub with a real fire is lovely.

You went to the kind of pubs that didn't suit you. There are many, many others.

My town has a thriving music scene thanks to the pubs, but many people are drinking non alcoholic drinks in the pubs these days. They are busy, all ages and lots of fun. 7 of the pubs took part in a town wide music festival this weekend and was amazing, so much talent including emerging young artists writing their own music. The pubs are the glue for the community, not the alcoholic drinks -

My town has a thriving music scene thanks to the pubs, but many people are drinking non alcoholic drinks in the pubs these days. They are busy, all ages and lots of fun. 7 of the pubs took part in a town wide music festival this weekend and was amazing, so much talent including emerging young artists writing their own music. The pubs are the glue for the community, not the alcoholic drinks -

Is your name Oliver Cromwell??

Covid also killed a lot of pubs off. Some couldn't afford to stay shut for so long and just shut for good. It was one of two industries (travel was the other) that really struggled during that time.

@Bambamhoohoo

depends where you live, here they are thriving in the main, a mix of types from neighbourhood freehouse bars serving modern beers to traditional tied pubs. They also host daytime events from toddler groups to knit and natter, to art classes to support groups, you can often rent spaces for clubs weekdays eg my choir rehearses in a back room!