Re: The Pub

Alcohol is so much cheaper in supermarkets; it is this, more than anything else, that has lead to many pubs shutting down.

Re: The Pub

I agree the smoking laws changed the pub scene drastically, with the 'old fashioned' local faring worst.
That is of course excellent news for the non-smoker. Nobody wants to suffer complications in later life due to inhaling other people's smoke or have their clothes contaminated with the need to throw them in the wash every time they arrive home. Additionally, it's utterly disgusting to have to suffer the smell of smoke whilst you're eating a pub meal.

Landlords often have a shelter for smokers (or they make do with the doorway), and people have to respect that. Vaping is still a grey area - some pubs are okay with it, others not. Meanwhile the vaping smoker is happily puffing away on a blend of over 40 chemicals not knowing what they consist of and how they will affect their health (now or in years to come). They're probably better off with tobacco. Better the devil...!

Sorry Jem, but the pub is not completely "dead" as you put it. There are still many of the traditional pubs around, though mostly tucked away in the residential streets, not the city centres. They are used by locals and many rely on showing football, rugby or racing on TV to keep their local clientele interested. Others have trade from also including a b+b on their premises, or have live bands or, dare I say it - karaoke evenings.

And on the subject which was mentioned earlier about quiz nights. They still exist, but their downfall is largely due to the internet. People cheat, basically. They Google the answers. A friend of mine still runs a quiz and makes it clear that if he sees anyone in a team using a mobile while the quiz is in action that team is disqualified, no questions asked.
This causes problems with basic usage of a mobile phone of course: people phoning for a taxi, or unsociable morons using Facebook, etc. But rules are rules!

But there are still those wonderful pubs which cater solely for the drinker. The person (like myself) who looks forward to a few pints of real ale on a Saturday afternoon at the end of the working week simply to enjoy conversation with a couple of mates. It's time to unwind, 'me' time. And that is what most pubs are short of.

Re: The Pub

Some of the pubs round here are actually really nice now, even us non drinkers welcome and a play area for the kids. Brilliant fun.

It only took banning smoking to make them change and welcome the rest of the community instead of people drinking themselves silly. Rarely see a drunk come out of them all much more civilised.

Re: The Pub

PUBS

My oldest living relative , uncle Arthur, used to run the KING & QUEEN pub in HIGHWORTH Wilts for about 20 years.
I mention this in passing, because we were privileged when we married in 1972 to receive a congratulatory telegram from the KING & QUEEN.
He lives in a flat nearby us & we play dominoes every Saturday afternoon for 2 hours. He is sharp as ever & will be 98 in March.

Re: The Pub

Whether a good thing or bad the ban on smoking and cheap supermarket booze has killed the British pub thanks to the BARSTEWARD tony bliar.

Re: The Pub

Good on him, Robert.
I'm thinking that the game we know as dominoes will die out entirely once this generation passes on. Another tradition lost with changing times.

Re: The Pub

That is one (probably the only one) that I am pleased he did take, which now allows me the opportunity of visiting and partaking of refreshments without coughing up my lungs.

Re: The Pub

Here, here, Joe
Who needs some unsociable, selfish sod puffing away on a cancer-encouraging drug or chemically-enhanced vapour device while we enjoy our pint and eat our meals without having to taste the smoke from their infected lungs?

Re: The Pub

Traditional pub seem to have had there day, hundreds have closed down the last couple of years.
I think there are many reasons for that.Social habits have changed, poeple poeple would rather drink at home as it is much cheaper than the pub and with in house entertainment it becomes an attractive proposition.
Also a lot of micro pubs have opened up, including the latest trend of converting garages into pubs.
Although I agree with the smoking ban it has helped towards the death knell of some pubs.
There are also many more meeting places for the public to socialise and meet friends such as the growth of coffee bars such as Costa.
There has also been a decline in rural pubs due to drive driving laws, which were rightly introduced. I don't, t think poeple have stopped drinking , but go to other alternatives, which are cheaper more convenient.

Re: The Pub

Another reason why pubs close is because they are tied to a brewery. The brewery puts the costs up so much there is no profit for the pub owner, so no longer a viable business