Where are all the pubs going?

[steveg]

Is it happening in your part of the UK?

More and more I see pubs which have been there for years have closed down in the past year or so - today whilst out and about we saw 3 which had been good pubs for many years, now boarded up or even demolished. Why is this do you think?  Is it the smoking ban? Cheap alcohol from the supermarkets? More people having Sky TV or Virginmedia and therefore staying at home rather than going down the pub? or even that the younger clientele are frequenting town centre bars rather than the local pubs? or a mix of all of these?

I find it quite worrying to see these pub all suddenly disappearing in front of my eyes almost.

As I said - is it happening near you too?

[Jewel]

I think it's happening everywhere, and for the reasons you've stated:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/content/articles/2009/02/06/east_midlands_pubs_s15_w5_video_feature.shtml

It makes me sad to see any abandoned building, but especially so when it's a pub...it seems like that is a loss to the community...and there are so many derelict, abandoned pubs in the Birmingham area that I'm really shocked - especially since I don't really SEE all that much of the Birmingham area.

[Lotus Freak]

it's sad really, because we've been noticing it even before the credit crunch. I think what's even sadder is the fact that it's the free houses and smaller pubs that are closing and the big chains are taking over. I'm not a big fan of big chain pubs like Wetherspoons and 2-fers. The little village pubs are ace! There's one in Yorkshire where MR and I went to called Ye Olde Punch Bowl, it was absolutely lovely...quite a few here in North Staffs that are memorable

[Molly Mockford]

There are many reasons why pubs close, but a couple of the major ones include the recent increases in costs and time required to apply for a live music licence;  and - although it isn't politically correct to say so - the smoking ban.  Pubs which are unable to provide a comfortable outside area for smokers lose their custom to other pubs which can;  or people simply stay home, having bought in some booze from the supermarket.  The number of new customers who have started going to pubs because of the smoke-free atmosphere is nothing like enough to make up for those who have been lost.

[Lotus Freak]

so you reckon that the smoking ban has more of an effect on the customers attendance rather than economy.

[Molly Mockford]

How on earth did you arrive at that conclusion based on what I wrote?

My post began:

There are many reasons why pubs close, but a couple of the major ones include..."

I made no attempt to suggest that these were the only reasons, or even the only two major reasons!

[Lotus Freak]

I suppose I didn't quite state that quite clearly. I am very aware that there are many reasons as to why pubs are closing down, all I was asking was did you think that the smoking ban had that much of an impact on business. I wasn't implying that you were making a statement that there are only 2 reasons why pubs are closing down. I'm so very sorry if I've offended by asking a question.

[Jewel]

I don't have any basis for what I'm going to say other than my very own opinion, but I think smoking and the economy is actually a small part of it (or possibly the final couple of nails?).  I think pub closures have been happening rather regularly since I moved to the UK 4 years ago (I hope it has nothing to do with my arrival!!).  It just seems to me that it's been a semi-regular topic on the news and in the newspapers - pub closures - and I've seen so many places in Birmingham that were boarded up and closed down long before I arrived - just sitting there empty.  I'm sure it's even tougher to make a living as a landlord out in the countryside...

I find it all really sad because I don't think pubs are places meant JUST for drinking - I think they've always been places where people go to socialise - even in the big city - I still remember going with my grandmother to her 'local' where we'd have one drink that would last for hours and sit and chat with all her friends.  It's only in the big city clubs (IMO) that people go to drink (although there is certainly lots of socialising going on there too).

But, I suppose this stuff happens in 'waves'  - different trends, etc. - for a while in the 70's, none of my friends and I went to bars - we had house parties.  It wasn't all about JUST drinking, it was the social aspects that were important, and with the easier availability of booze in the supermarkets, cheap or not, I think it's easier for people to stay home, have a bbq in the garden with friends, etc.

We're planning to have one today as a matter of fact before my brother and his family head back to the US tomorrow - might be a bit of a soggy one, but we'll do it anyway!

Anyway, this is an interesting subject...

[Molly Mockford]

I suppose I didn't quite state that quite clearly. I am very aware that there are many reasons as to why pubs are closing down, all I was asking was did you think that the smoking ban had that much of an impact on business. I wasn't implying that you were making a statement that there are only 2 reasons why pubs are closing down. I'm so very sorry if I've offended by asking a question.

You haven't offended, Lotus!  But neither did you ask a question.  You made a firm statement: "so you reckon that the smoking ban has more of an effect on the customers attendance rather than economy."  Since I had said nothing of the sort, I naturally disagreed that this was a fair representation of my views!

If you had asked a question, maybe along the lines of "In your experience, would you say that the smoking ban or the economy has had the greater effect on the reduction of spending in pubs?", I would have replied that the decline in pub trade began well before the global recession, and therefore had other causes;  however, it is very possible that the recession may have contributed, in that some people simply cannot afford to go out for a drink, although they used to go out regularly.  Nevertheless, it does often seem that, when people have to retrench, drinking and smoking are the last items on the agenda for reducing expenditure.  People being people, they often prefer to cut their spending on essentials rather than on the last little luxuries in their lives - and who can blame them?

[wiseguy]

well i must admit im a bit of a heavy drinker since i left the service but im damned if im going to pay over £3 per pint and sit outside to have a cig with my drink

and have any of you walked past the pubs that are still open have you seen the mess with all the discarded cig buts all over the floor disgusting

and they supply you with little or no shelter
ok i might get some lung desease through smoking but am more likely to get pnumonia from sat out side in the rain
ok rant over

its easier to buy it cheap from the supermarkets sit in my own home play the music and invite the friends i want than to sit outside a pub and be poorer for it

ian aka wg