The Demise Of The Great British Pub

[Aytee]

My wife and I went on a country walk today and we thought at the end we would drive to a village a few miles away to have a pub lunch. It was over 10 miles before we FOUND a pub and that was in a town. All the ones on route were either boarded up or closed and up for sale. I am not often shocked by things but I certainly was by this state of affairs. I don't live in a village but it must be very distressing for people that do as there is now nothing there for them. Are any other ABers shocked by this state of affairs?

[joggerjayne]

I think that's really sad.

Although I'm a bit spoilt for pubs. Within walking distance of where I live, I probably have ... fifty pubs?

[B00]

Not shocked no.

Rising alcohol prices and the smoking ban pretty much killed a lot of pubs.

[joggerjayne]

Yes, the smoking ban was a disaster for a lot of pubs.

[shoota]

Same thing is happening in France to the smaller village establishments.

[Mick-Talbot]

Shocked?

It's been happening for at least the last decade.
It's a sad state of affairs and I blame the supermarkets.

[Prudie]

Not shocked no. There are plenty of country pubs round me but I live in a tourist area. If they don't have that or do food they've lost their clientele. And yes the smoking ban will have had an effect.

[bednobs]

i blame mick talbot

[jackthehat]

I blame the Muslims.......coming over here and not drinking in our pubs.......

[FredPuli43]

No. Life in villages has changed. If every man and married woman (single women kept away) still went to the pub most days, and it was the centre of social life, the pub would still be there. This village maintains one pub. It used to have four. The next, much larger, has four. It used to have eleven! The ones that survive are different from the old pubs. They serve proper food, for one thing, and attract trade from beyond their village and so they survive. The one here has just built an annexe of new bedrooms; there is demand from people on business in the area and from residents with guests to accommodate.

[Baldric]

Lol @ jth.

[Mick-Talbot]

Lol.....I do my bit to keep my local open, bednobs.

[joggerjayne]

There is only one thing that will save the licensed trade.

Those three magic words ... !

GIRLS' NIGHT OUT

[joggerjayne]

... and Mick T, obviously.

[237SJ]

I think a lot of it is to do with the fact that so many people drink wine these days as opposed to beer or spirits. It`s easier and cheaper to get a bottle of wine in the supermarket and drink it at home than it is to go to the pub and pay the same price for a glass as a bottle at home. I`m not surpised. Last time I did the round of pubs in my home area (just an average sized town) someone told me there were 9 pubs for sale there. I think the culture`s changed.

[paddywak]

I'm afraid it's wide spread Aytee, in my little place the snooker club is now flats, the pub across from it is now a site covered by OAP's bungalows, the pub I used to be able to see from our front room window has been replaced by three private bungalows and there's nothing left of the miners welfare but a heap of bricks and as you say every where you go you see boarded up pubs. The only country places that are still open and thriving are now more restaurants then pubs and even in the local towns pubs I'd used all my life are shut down.

[craft1948]

When I was married to the first Mr Craft we lived in a very small village which amazingly had 2 pubs. When I left 10 years later another pub had opened, so I think I've done my bit for the local economy. (they're all still open)

[Mick-Talbot]

I think I'm right in saying.....


number of pubs declining
Number of alcohol related deaths increasing


Ban the sale of cheap supermarket beer

[The Builder]

It does depend a lot on the area. I've worked for several village pubs. One in a village of only 200 people. They're all thriving... unlike in the towns :o(

[FredPuli43]

Quite, craft. In my drinking days, I had a flat in Frinton-on-Sea and patronised the local off licence. I must have been keeping it going. I had only been sober for 4 weeks when it had to close down! You drinkers, learn from that!

[RATTER15]

I find that so many quiet country pubs are now turning into restaurant/pubs. I remember when the local village pub only served pasties and pies, the better pubs also served a traditional ploughman lunch.
A ploughman's lunch to me is fresh crusty bread cheese and pickle and a pint and cost very little indeed, these days a ploughman's will cost the same price as a roast dinner and comes with a whole host of salads and side dishes! certainly not a ploughmans to me, A traditional meal ruined!!