End of the Pub

[ElephantWhaleRabbit]

With the pub industry set to lose £650 million in December alone, when many venues make a quarter of their annual turnover, this pretty much looks like the end of the pub, particularly smaller independent venues. A significant part of our culture and history swept away, although I’m sure property developers will be happy.......

@AcornAutumn
No idea .. I’m assuming the government will review it in a months time ?
I lose some money in furlough , not too much , but can’t really lose much more
I have a second job which isn’t furloughed so the household money isn’t affected too much ..thankfully.. but belts will need to be tightened

Again, a lot of those people got drunk at home before going out

Then tax the supermarkets and off licenses a lot higher to sell booze, or bring in minimum pricing. This is the chance to curb the nation's dependence on alcohol. It's as dangerous as any drug.

@WouldBeGood
Absolutely! I’m in a large chain of pubs and they’ve spent loads on COVID safety measures
Each table are literally separated , massive screens , table service , track and trace filled out as soon as you walk in , sanitisers everywhere, I don’t think they can literally do anymore

@emilyfrost

As someone who thinks alcohol should be illegal I would happily see the end of pubs, but unfortunately I don’t think it will come to that entirely.

Some will survive, but only the ones that can adapt. It’s about time businesses did anyway.

If they were truly wanted, they wouldn’t have been failing in the first place.

Maybe moved to Iraq if you want some where where alcohol is illegal

[quote HaveANiceFuckingDay]@WouldBeGood
Absolutely! I’m in a large chain of pubs and they’ve spent loads on COVID safety measures
Each table are literally separated , massive screens , table service , track and trace filled out as soon as you walk in , sanitisers everywhere, I don’t think they can literally do anymore[/quote]
Patrick Vallance said at the committee last week that there was no evidence of hospitality spreading the virus.

I’ve been out loads and loads and pubs and restaurants have been great

Unfortunately the pubs get the blame for it all
We were only looking today at the crowds outside Harrods taken last weekend

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Whilst sorry for those who rely on the income, I think less alcohol sales is a good thing. We should be really focussed on health right now given the circumstances.

Problem with this is that alcohol consumption is going up - people are just drinking more at home because they are so stressed and depressed about everything

I'm late thirties. I love the pub. Love people watching. Having a cheeky vodka after a hard day. Meeting friends. The regulars.

@XiCi

I hardly ever go to the pub - I certainly would never suggest it - and when I do I get lime and soda because I don’t really drink Well your hardly the target market are you. I take it you don't go to bars or clubs either. Its like saying you don't mind if all restaurants close because you don't like food.

I totally agree with MissEllaWater. We have some great independent pubs here, mind you I live in a very socially vibrant city where people of all ages go out to all sorts of different pubs and bars. I hate people that are sneery about 'old mens pubs' as well. Why shouldn't there be places where all ages feel comfortable socialising.

Actually I don’t mind going to a cocktail bar occasionally or a club for someone’s birthday (although you’re right I wouldn’t suggest those either, as clubs in particular are rubbish for socialising) - I’m not completely teetotal, I just don’t drink on a regular basis and I don’t like beer. As I stated in my post below that one, I don’t like the atmosphere in my local pubs which are either drinkers’ pubs or sports pubs. My point was clearly that a) if these venues are struggling to keep going just catering to old men then they might need to be more welcoming to other groups in order to survive, not that old men shouldn’t have anywhere to socialise 🙄 and b) people are drinking a lot less nowadays so pubs need to get used to that if they want my money!

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Whilst sorry for those who rely on the income, I think less alcohol sales is a good thing. We should be really focussed on health right now given the circumstances.

Who says a couple of drinks every now and then isn't 'healthy'? Define healthy anyway - my definition would include stuff like a balanced diet (to include a bit of cake/chocolate/cheese), exercise (a few hour long walks a week ought to cover it), and spending time with friends/loved ones socially, with a few drinks if you fancy. Mental health is important too, you know. Now more than ever.

Nobody is denying that alcohol (like a lot of things) has the potential to be unhealthy. But to suggest you can't be healthy and can't enjoy a few drinks is ludicrous. And if you think the pubs being closed means people drink less, you're deluded - a bottle of wine from Sainsbury's costs a lot less than a bottle at a bar.

@emilyfrost

As someone who thinks alcohol should be illegal I would happily see the end of pubs, but unfortunately I don’t think it will come to that entirely.

Some will survive, but only the ones that can adapt. It’s about time businesses did anyway.

If they were truly wanted, they wouldn’t have been failing in the first place.

Why do you think alcohol should be illegal? Do you also believe that chocolate, chips, caffeine, cars, bikes, electricity and toasters should all be illegal, too, given that they can be bad for you/actually kill you? Thousands of people injure themselves with their slippers every year - should we ban slippers?

Covid is to pubs as Thatcher was to mining - the last, brutal and sudden hammer blow that will finish an industry that is on its way out anyway.

Between the monster pubCos, lack of young drinkers (some student unions have actually closed their bars because they don't make money), smoking ban, duty and the general shape of the high street, they were on their way out long before 2020. But 2020 will finish a lot of them off and it won't be pretty.

I disagree with Patty Pan, whilst pubs may be declining, it's not just pubs we are talking about here. It's so many other forms of hospitality and arts, theatre etc.

Young people should go out and socialise.

I agree with user147, second post, that this is affecting so many areas of our lives. Badly and may not he recoverable.

I think the effects are huge. And not just be dismissed by those who only have a lime and soda. (I don't go out that much, but I do like to eat out, or go to the pub occasionally).

"My point was clearly that a) if these venues are struggling to keep going just catering to old men"

Oh purlease. That's not what we are talking about. Many pubs do great food and are enjoyed by all age groups.

And this isn't just about pubs. It's about all hospitality, arts, shows, shopping and restaurants and the death of the high street, arts, music. Life. Jobs and the way towns and villages function and survive. Socialising. It affects all of us, is so many ways. Surely you can see that.

@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett

Covid is to pubs as Thatcher was to mining - the last, brutal and sudden hammer blow that will finish an industry that is on its way out anyway.

Between the monster pubCos, lack of young drinkers (some student unions have actually closed their bars because they don't make money), smoking ban, duty and the general shape of the high street, they were on their way out long before 2020. But 2020 will finish a lot of them off and it won't be pretty.

Every dog has its day, unfortunately.

The pub trade has been dying a slow death for years, Covid accelerates the demise.

Pubs won't die completely but the ones that remain will be the corporatised chain bars like Wetherspoons.

I think it would be devastating, they’re so important as a part of life for many..like restaurants, cinema, theatre, shopping, festivals etc etc..I feel like we’re losing everything here

the younger generation I know are not all drinking less they still like going to a pub, certain pubs are more geared at youngsters than some obviously
Have you ever been to a university town or a large city , you will find pubs and bars pretty full of youngsters.
Wet pubs have been slowly dying off as people can't afford it a pint of beer may cost nearly a £5 , glass of wine can be £6/7
I have just bought a case beer in tesco for £9.50 and bottle wine for a £5 ( for xmas - and it may be unhealthy but I don't care )
Pubs that sell good food were doing ok but this has devastated some and they won't be able to bounce back
Also please remember all duty from alcohol and taxes paid from pubs will have to come from somewhere else
Nothing better on a warm day than a lager in beer garden or a cold day a drink in front of a pubs log fire

Just back from Aldi

The only vodka left was a strange mango flavoured thing

Not a coincidence

@user1471562688 Sadly, I'm nodding my head at what you've said. God I miss normality.

I moved to my area in 2005. There were 4 pubs within 5 minutes walk. As soon as the smoking ban came in they started closing. The only one still there is a Wetherspoons. I think cost of drinks is a factor too. For me its a combination of the two. Why would I spend £10+ on 2 glasses of wine when I can buy a bottle (or two!) for that, and why would I go and stand outside in the cold when I can smoke in the comfort of my own home (I have a small second living room at the back of the house where I smoke).

There is another reason I think pubs are dying out. In my youth the biggest way to meet people was going to the pub. You’d often get chatting to all sorts of people. Now everyone is sat there glued to their phones. Or just staying within their small groups. If people are looking for a date they go online, not to the pub. Younger people are drinking less and spending more time in places like gyms (when they’re open!).

So I think it was inevitable. Restrictions have speeded up the process but it was heading this way regardless.

Matt Hancock's publican buddy has branched out into medical supplies.

£30million contract

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/matt-hancocks-neighbour-won-30m-deal-to-supply-vials-for-covid-tests-gnsbg8vgx

Where I live has seen a recent rise of small craft beer bars and tap rooms that were doing really well. Nice places with nice customers, usually independently owned and run, all busy with a mixed crowd of young and older drinkers. Not the old school wet led pub described above and certainly not dying.

Pubs won't die completely but the ones that remain will be the corporatised chain bars like Wetherspoons.

You clearly are not living in the same world as me!

No, it won't be the end of pubs or theatres or anything.

People WANT to go, probably now more than ever -human nature to want what e can't have.

As soon as a large part of the population is vaccinated & you can go to the pub just fir a drink, they'll be heaving again and yes, sone will close, more 'chains' will survive, but there will still be independents & we can all make up for lost time.

I'm MASSIVELY Covid risk averse, but I'm NOT pessimistic about the future post vaccinations.

I haven't been into a pub/cafe/restaurant since early February, but I will be back in one before May Day.