The Traditional Pub disappearing.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

I was driving through Hounslow today, near where l live, and l found to my sadness so many public houses, that have closed down over recent months, and have either been turned in McDonalds, Tesco's or Polish pubs.

I think the start of the demise of these boozers was when they stopped people smoking in them, and that is when trading stopped.

Its a great shame that the British boozer is going down the plug hole - do pun intended.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

I think the start of the demise of these boozers was when they stopped people smoking in them, and that is when trading stopped.

Too simplistic for me.

The smoking ban was one thing but for me the biggest problem is how expensive it is to drink in pubs compared to buying alcohol at home.

It's in no way right that ASDA, Tesco etc. can get away with selling alcohol cheaper than bottled water.

Personally I'd have two levels of duty on alcohol with off-sales being taxed and minimum priced to encourage responsible levels of drinking in pubs where the landlord can be partially held responsible for their patrons.

[Angua]

The beginning of the end was years ago. People just don't go to the pub to socialise they way they used to and haven't done so since well before the ban. Folks would far rather stay at home where there is no need to worry about driving, they can watch what they like on the box, or play computer games or chat on the net and all this without the high price of a beer in the pub.

There are few youngsters going to the pub to have a game of darts or pool. The only card games are poker variations and dommies is considered an old persons game. The pubs are lacking up and coming regulars. Gone are the days of the older folks tutting in the corner at the youngsters making a cola last all night whilst feeding the juke box. Or taking the chalks in order to get a game of darts.

I would say Sky/Cable TV, computers, greedy pub chains and high house prices have had a far greater impact on pub trade than ever the smoking ban has.

As far as I'm concerned, one of the main reasons I don't bother with pubs is that as a wine drinker I can buy a bottle of wine in a supermarket or off-licence for the same price, or less, than a single glass costs in a pub.

Smoking isn't the issue, for me, as a non-smoker I prefer my clothes & hair not stinking from other peoples cigarettes, so I'd have been more likely to go to a pub after the smoking ban - if only the prices of drinks weren't so high.

[Hom3r]

Originally Posted by Derek

Too simplistic for me.

The smoking ban was one thing but for me the biggest problem is how expensive it is to drink in pubs compared to buying alcohol at home.

It's in no way right that ASDA, Tesco etc. can get away with selling alcohol cheaper than bottled water.

Personally I'd have two levels of duty on alcohol with off-sales being taxed and minimum priced to encourage responsible levels of drinking in pubs where the landlord can be partially held responsible for their patrons.

I hope not.

I bought a bottle of Vodka (1 ltr) for £20 and if you work it out to 25ml units there are 40 of them which works out to 50p per measure. If you work out what it work cost a pub prices then the £20 bottle would become £80 per litre, then I would become tee-total.

[pabloo]

everything is too expensive including cable tv,hopefully the now traditional tv experience will disappear

[Juo]

I think Weatherspoons helps to kill the "tradition pubs" as well, everything will be part of a chain in the future.

[Halcyon]

I like to try and suppot local pubs when I go out on walks in the countryside.
You can still get some good meals and meet friendly people in pubs.
We need to support them.

Originally Posted by Juo

I think Weatherspoons helps to kill the "tradition pubs" as well, everything will be part of a chain in the future.

Can you explain a bit more, please.

Round my way the Weatherspoon pubs serve reasonably priced food, reasonably priced drinks & do not have loud music, fruit machines, etc.

It is, therefore, possible to go with a group of friends, have a decent conversation & not spend too much money.

- what do you consider to be missing from that when compared to a 'traditional' pub?

[pabloo]

Originally Posted by gazfan

Can you explain a bit more, please.

Round my way the Weatherspoon pubs serve reasonably priced food, reasonably priced drinks & do not have loud music, fruit machines, etc.

It is, therefore, possible to go with a group of friends, have a decent conversation & not spend too much money.

- what do you consider to be missing from that when compared to a 'traditional' pub?

great reply m8 couldnt have said it better myself

[frogstamper]

Also something missing from pubs now I come to think of it is the public bar and the saloon bar, when I was younger it seemed almost every pub had both of these bars.
The public bar was usually a bit more spartan and the beer was a penny or two cheaper, this is where you went with your mates on a lunchtime or a friday night, the saloon bar was more like somebodies lounge, settees, comfy chairs a open fire and shock horror carpet!! This is where you went with your girlfriend or wife.
There were a few pubs in Brighton that even still had a snug incorporated into the public bar, usually for the ladies I believe, but all this seems long gone nowadays...I know a scattering of these old pubs do still exist out in the countryside where time has stood still but the majority have gone the same way as the pint of mild or the boilermaker, into the history books.

I used to go to the pub to get away from children.Now all of them seem to welcome children and frankly I can't bear there being no choice.

Yes I understand that the continental system with children eating with their parents being exposed to responsible drinking is to be encouraged but I do like the old traditional pub with no kids from time to time..

[Angua]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

I used to go to the pub to get away from children.Now all of them seem to welcome children and frankly I can't bear there being no choice.

Yes I understand that the continental system with children eating with their parents being exposed to responsible drinking is to be encouraged but I do like the old traditional pub with no kids from time to time..

Funny thing is I see fewer children in pubs than I remember (except in specifically family orientated eateries). Used to go to a variety of local village pubs at 14/15, they generally has a room away from the bar where us youngsters were allowed to go. Over time these rooms have been turned into the eating area whilst the rest of the pub has been opened out. Meanwhile this integration with the youngsters has vanished with many years of clampdowns on under 18s in pubs so you have lost the next generation of pub goers.

Originally Posted by Angua

Funny thing is I see fewer children in pubs than I remember (except in specifically family orientated eateries). Used to go to a variety of local village pubs at 14/15, they generally has a room away from the bar where us youngsters were allowed to go. Over time these rooms have been turned into the eating area whilst the rest of the pub has been opened out. Meanwhile this integration with the youngsters has vanished with many years of clampdowns on under 18s in pubs so you have lost the next generation of pub goers.

Yes I remember Wetherspoons refusing to serve my very obviously over 18, 21 year old bearded son with 'soft ' drinks because he had no ID to prove he was over 18 and despite my telling them that I was his mother.

And the place was crawling with kids.All the local pubs are..because of food being provided.

I'd like to have the choice of no children back..

[Kymmy]

Lived in this village for over 6 years and never been in any of the local 4 pubs..

In fact I don't think I've been in a pub in the last 5 years