Sadly the decline of the pub has been going on for years. Decade on decade sincd the 80s they have been closing. The numbers above are similar to 2017. It maybe post covid, and the support schemes, kept more open than in prior years. I do lament the loss of pubs, local ones anyway. Some of the chain pubs should be shut, but that is another story. We have lived in our little community for 20 odd years. Used to be 3 pubs in a 10 minute walk, now we have 1. Used to be the case each did different things, real ale, pool tables and music, lock ins. Now just the real ale pub exists. Tells a story in itself I think. I was in for a couple last week and it wasnt busy, but then it was £4 a pint and despite how good the beer was some people cant afford that. 1 bar person on duty only and I can remember the days when there would be 4 or 5. I honestly think lifestyle changes are behind this, and the local pub will disappear with my generation, sadly. Mobile phones means when kids get to the pub they have nowt new to say to each other. People would rather have a bottle of wine and Netflix. Younger generation are arguably more strapped for cash than we were and to be honest they probably drink less than I did. Sad times, but not sure any changes in business rates will halt the decline that has been going on for many years.
Thanks for expanding on my reply above I've seen plenty of 17-20 year old meeting for coffee... times have certainly changed
Get with the program mate, this has only happened since you-know-who was in charge no economic or social causes, just evil Tories. If Labour were in charge every other unit would be a bursting at the seams pub.
That's a very good post and I agree with everything you've said. I'm not laying the blame at any party's door or anyone else's really. It's just a real shame that we're collectively killing the only real culture we have in this country. Foreign visitors have always loved our pubs and people I've had over have been amazed at the variety and individuality. I've loved the culture of some of the places I've visited, especially in isolated parts of Sicijy, Corsica, Italy, etc ... ... I just don't know what ours is anymore, the internet?
It all seemed to start when the food arrived, that’s where the money was, so go away drinkers we don’t need you, then every pub had food and then that’s where the money wasn’t anymore but there was also no drinkers to replace it again, so hello closures.
I think the culture has changed from drinking in a pub in the evening to what seems to be a growing need to have to take alcohol to a day at the beach , to a picnic , anywhere that’s a day out or get together . Kids growing up learning that drink is a normal all day everywhere activity
I hope you are right mate, but I go into cafes a lot , but can’t say I’ve seen the young generation in there . Unless it’s the Starbucks, Costas they’re using cos I won’t go to them
Like you I am not sure what our culture is anymore. Maybe you and I are just old buggers with rose tinted specs on. I love some our history as Great Britain, and how I was brought up in a community. Our community was built around local works and the investment they put back in re sports pitches, clubs, social clubs etc, and the local clubs and pubs. Now there is little that looks like that. What do we really have left? I invest lots of time in community projects from kids sports to projects to save local cafes. Sadly it is the same handful of people who contribute. Covid made the volunteering option for people less attractive in my opinion. I live on the edge of a national park and it is stunning. I love visiting country houses and gardens. But even these pleasures seem to be less and less easy than they once were. Arguably our sport is still one of our greatest traditions, and that is slowly being taken away from us. Progress...
Several decades of being told by our 'moral betters' that anything British culture is racist have caused this. In trying desperately to erase our history we've lost what anything really means.
We were once in the middle of nowhere in Sardinia, a place called Bitti, on an 8 month drive around the Med. We hadn't planned to go there, it was just a place on the back roads through the mountains. It just happened to be their town festival when they paraded the Madonna through the streets on a cart pulled by oxen. People were in their regional costumes, riding magnificent horses and outbreaks of national music, communal spontaneous singing and dancing everywhere. Drinking wasn't a big part of it and everything was honest and joyous. The young people, including teenage lads, were doing these dances just for the fun of it, not to show off. There were no tourists there and it was like going back in time ... no stalls selling shyte, no disco music pumping out, no 'two shots for the price of one'. We lasted until 3am and it was still going on ... ... we were so jealous.
I still use my local, but now only on Sunday. A proper drinkers pub with a good selection of beers, and only a 10minute walk. I have the luxury of the local cricket club 100 yards from me with a decent crowd and social side and an indoor bowls club which has social event. So for me the supermarkets haven't won yet, but as Smug's post suggests it getting harder for the pub industry.
Envy you mate, the remaining drinking holes that were once my locals are now dives full of scruffs . So I have to confess , that I’m guilty of mostly giving my beer money to supermarkets
