Re: The decline of the pub

Please let me explain PPH, almost every Day I go to the same pub at lunch time for an hour or so, it's my local and I drank a lot there when I was heavy on drink 30 years ago. I have one pint of stout then come home for lunch, there are only 3 or 4 people in the bar at that time of Day and it is quite pleasant. Come Sunday night my wife and her sister go to the same pub at 8oc.and I call in at closing time to escort them home (gentleman that I am) it's then I get this combination of Human odours when I open the bar door, in the tobacco years all you could smell was tobacco, which masked the other smells.

Re: The decline of the pub

The pub we go to isn't declining.

Me and a couple of friends go there once a week just after lunchtime. We don't go there at lunchtime because you can't always get a seat. We time our visit for after 2-00 p.m for that reason. The food there isn't particularly cheap but it is good quality. Hence the reason for the lunchtime crowd I suppose.

There's nearly always a group of men there playing cards or dominoes. The beer is expensive (as it is nearly everywhere now) and it is a topic up for occasional discussion. It is well kept though and it's only a once a week treat that we allow ourselves.

We tried a few other pubs that are pretty good but this one is the only one where my brother can consistently get the brew he's partial to (Abbot). Many pubs sell a premium beer for a few weeks and then they stop doing it.

The one we go to seems to be doing OK at the time of day we're there. I hope they are doing well at other times too because we'd hate to see it go.

We luckily (or unluckily) live in a highly populated semi-rural area and there is the choice of a few good pubs within a 2 mile radius, all well patronised as far as I can tell. The one we use is at the outer limit of that distance but that means I can walk or cycle to it and then walk back.

So, it maybe depends on where you live whether the pubs are in decline. It doesn't seem to be happening around our way. Any pubs that have closed did so years ago. None that I know of have closed in the last (say) 6-7 years.

Re: The decline of the pub

Because I don`t drink I rarely go to pubs, but the 2 occasions lately I have been was to do a Quiz Night and it was packed. Nice atmosphere, good fun. Maybe pubs need to work a bit harder these days?

Re: The decline of the pub

I was only ever a regular pub goer in my student days and my 20's. Only ever drink beer and even then only if a decent pint and a pub with original (not designed), character. Now the only time I tend to go to a pub is when the weather is decent and I can sit outside for a shandy, usually on my way home after a ride on one of my motorcycles. I have a few favourites, alongside rivers or canals. However an unintended consequence of the smoking ban is that all the smokers joined me sat outside and that certainly discouraged me. I'll ride in to the car park and if there are lots of smokers sat outside where I would want to sit I ride back out again.

Re: The decline of the pub

Mind you I'll walk out of a pub if I find there's a pub quiz on too . I go to a pub for a nice pint and to socialise not to be frowned at (was even shushed once!) because I dared to talk when the quiz was on - was deliberately talking quietly too! No disrespect to those who like a pub quiz - enjoy - but I'll go elsewhere whilst you do.