New Year pubs & restaurants
 

In previous years most of the restaurants, pubs etc around here have made a big deal about New Year arrangements with themed nights, entertainment, expensive special menus etc. with some pubs even selling tickets to get it but this year we've seen hardly anything like that advertised. Our high street has seen a recent influx of new eateries so I'm wondering if the feeling here is that there's more supply than demand now or whether it's similar elsewhere and it's down to the 'austerity' we're told is prevalent*.

* Odd given how packed all the restaurants and cafes around here seem to be. :shrug:

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

A lot of the pubs round here have turned into convenience stores, shame as some of them are really nice old buildings. However if they are going to charge £4 a pint and people can drink for £1 a pint at home whilst staying on their backsides, ordering cheap takeaways, watching reality TV/playing with phones. I ate out yesterday, the cheapest bottle of wine was £15, I could get the same for under £5 in supermarket. It's a bit about money, but it's also a sad enditement of the way society is going.
I blame the Tories ;)

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Oh dear Mr K can't you keep politics out of CF this Christmas old boy.;)

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

The OP is very keen on politics (see his footer), so couldn't help it Den, sorry! It was a winked smilie ;)

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

My local which normally sells out this year still has plenty of tickets. The landlord says he can't put his finger on it but there's just not that feel-good factor around at the moment. He says he can't decide whether it's fear of job security and inflation or the many celebrity deaths, but people just aren't rushing to buy tickets.
Of course, landlords always blame external factors; it could just be his taste in music. ;)

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

GROAN. Give it a rest PLEASE

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Ha ha! I quoted him then quickly rephrased it as I didn't want this thread to get political. You read it at the wrong moment!

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Really? Or have you never even spoken to your pub landlord and you were simply inventing something to spread the good old Brexit doom and gloom.

Mobbed :rolleyes: Don't make things up old chap.

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Wrong again. If I was doing that then I wouldn't have removed the word ten minutes before your post! I just typed it exactly as he said it. Then I thought, oh no, some sensitive people might try and see that as political so I'd better remove the offending word!

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

When in a hole stop digging. Man up and apologise and you'll be respected for it.

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

I've only been to a pub about once a year since the smoking ban was brought in. And even then it was a special occasion, usually when friends visited from afar.

And each time I saw the prices and they scared me! The mark-up is HUGE, especially in the popup "craft beer" places where they often sell ales I could brew better with a £5 kit.

And New Year's Eve? Last year saw our 2 remaining locals almost empty after the previous year's £5 entry fee in exchange for a small paper plate of sarnies and sausage rolls. One has been up for sale for about 3 years... no takers.

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Off to our local restaurant for New Year's Eve, and it's sold out.

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Confirmed, only 1 of the many restaurants have anything special arranged for NYE. The rest seem to be just hoping that they'll get some punters in. I reckon it's a combination of too much competition in a fairly small area coupled with a reaction to previous occasions when they've tried it on and found that they lost business as a result. Once people feel they've been ripped off with high prices and slow/poor service, they probably aren't keen to repeat the process. I'm sure it'll be different factors in different areas however.

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Most people i know are having get togethers at their houses as they say it's cheaper there is no trouble and it's a better all round atomosphere.

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Been doing that for the last 16 years.

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Yep i'll be going to brothers new years eve party and staying for new years day amazing how he turns a party into a lucrative business opportunity but he always has the best food :).

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

My thoughts and best wishes go the Ladies and Gents at the NHS Hospitals... who have to pick up the pieces when people have stupidly over indulged. Other than that best wishes to everybody and a happy new year.

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Well we're going out early to see what it's like locally. If we can find somewhere not too busy we'll have some food and a few drinks but if it's all a bit too hectic we'll just head back home. Crowds and slow service don't sit well with either of us.

Mrs Osem doesn't like to eat late and is not a big drinker anyway. She has her figure to think of (and so do I fortunately... :naughty: )

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

There is a pub near us that does it wrong every year.

The celebrate midnight on the 12 bong :(

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

It might be worth explaining that if it were the last strike that signified the hour then there would have to be a built in offset for each hour.

Then again you can't cure stupid.

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Friends have just come back from a pub "do". Far too many people they said, and more were arriving (paid ticketed invitation). The landlord gave them their money back.

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

I've not been a fan of new year since I was a teenager with the exception of the millenium perhaps, Amsterdam is a great place to party when you're in your early twenties after all. I'm working tonight, going to have a little snooze and drive into London later to watch the fireworks.

It's funny that packed pubs and restaurants have been mentioned, I noticed the same during our last recession and the only answer I could come up with was people thought stuff it what will happen, will happen so we might as well enjoy ourselves in the meantime.

Happy new year everyone

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Quite the opposite here - we just got back from our local which was probably quieter than on a normal Saturday evening. The local all you can eat Chinese was packed as usual but the others we saw weren't exactly crammed...

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Don't forget to add the leap second.;)

Re: New Year pubs & restaurants
 

Its important that you do that sober mind.;):D