We’re trying to transition from abundance to scarcity
No-Wind6836 on
Yes, the answer to this is to ban smoking in pub gardens.
yourlocallidl on
Don’t worry, another Pret/Greggs/Vape shop will take its place.
TeflonBoy on
Is anyone surprised? No one can afford it. We all weep for our loss of historic public houses.. yet we do everything we can do prevent the very next generation from being able to afford drinking or eating in them.
We deserve this.
Feeling_Pen_8579 on
Not a surprise this place is becoming an increasingly miserable place.
Wolfen1982 on
There used to be 10 decent pubs within walking distance of my house (say 15 years ago). Now I’ve got one real ale microbrewery, the old cricket club and a pizza bar that’s full off wankers every night. The pubs that used to be there are now multi occupancy residential, vape shop, a couple of shit takeaways and a polish supermarket. 21st century (nothern) England
SeaweedClean5087 on
Not surprising. I’m a higher rate tax payer and can’t afford to drink in my local any more. It’s nearly £7 a pint. I’m actually not paying higher rate anymore because I quit my job in June. I’d stopped calling in for a few points way before then though. Drinking in pubs, especially in cities, just isn’t affordable any more.
damrodoth on
I mean ideally pubs have no place is modern British anyway. The pub ‘lads’ tend to be very Islamophobic and pubs are a hotbed for Islamophobia. Even just there being so many pubs has undercurrents of making the country unwelcoming to Muslim immigrants who are strongly against drinking on religious grounds. People who complain about this need better things to do with their time
rsweb on
Pubs are a huge part of our culture and should be protected/use encouraged. They are a great social hub for smaller communities
shaun2312 on
If the drink was subsidised like the Government’s is, I’d probably visit more often
BaBaFiCo on
Absolute travesty. This country needs more third spaces for people to socialise. And it isn’t even that pubs are unviable in a fair market place – they’re paying disproportionately high business rates (in England), getting held over barrel by greedy offshore PubCos, and getting ready to be hit again by nanny state intervention with duty rises and outdoor smoking bans. Nevermind all of the other factors, like rising costs, that they share with other businesses.
Any other country would try to support such an iconic industry (that contributes £34bn to the economy and employs 1million + people). But in Britain we seem to want to let them suffer.
Top_Opposites on
These are rookie number, labour wants to double down destroying this industry
sjw_7 on
We were chatting about this a few days ago (ironically while at the pub).
Over the past twenty years several pubs in my town have closed. But in that time several others have opened so now we have more than we did originally. The town has grown a fair bit in this time so you could argue that per head we have lost out. However thats not really the case.
Most of ones that closed were small, they were all old style ‘boozers’, did not serve food, were not historically significant in any way, a couple were flat roofed monstrosities and none of them were what you would call family friendly.
The new ones are generally much larger, all serve food, all are family friendly, we have gained lounge style bars, modern pub/restaurants and a sports pavilion. There is a lot more variety and we have more of a choice in what we can do.
I dont think the town we live in has lost out. In fact it has gained overall. But thats not the case everywhere. There is a village pub that we used to walk to a few times a year. It was always fairly busy when we visited but a couple of years ago it closed down and is now a house. That village no longer has a pub.
porspeling on
People will complain but I’m sorry there are more than enough pubs about in this country. Even a tiny village with no shops will have a pub or two.
Yes costa have increased but also drinking culture is on the decline and that is only a good thing overall.
Apez_in_Space on
The government can’t let this keep happening. The fabric of our culture is eroding in so many aspects. For fuck’s sake don’t increase alcohol tax and let pubs decide what their policies are on smoking. This is only going to continue unless labour do more.
gymdaddy9 on
Yep prices they charge mean people stay at home and drink
nightsofthesunkissed on
We can’t go on losing more and more and more third spaces for people to socialize and meet other people in.
Too many people are already too isolated and lonely and can’t afford to hang out at their local pubs and let their hair down with other human beings.
This is terrible for peoples’ social lives and there is seemingly just nothing replacing the places people would go to hang out.
Life is going to just get more and more miserable with things continuing down this route.
radiant_0wl on
Business rates relief needs to be withdrawn gradually – whilst the tax is in desperate need of reform and essentially need lowering I don’t think it’s related to offering 75% discount in the hospitality and leisure industry.
Going from 75% relief to 0% in April would be a struggle for a lot of businesses so I can certainly see a strong argument for removing it over 2-3 years in aid of supporting businesses to adapt.
PrometheusIsFree on
Drinking at home is far cheaper. You can smoke, food can be delivered, and streaming services are numerous. Gaming is huge. There’s no coked up dickheads, or violence. No cab fares and no waiting to be served. You don’t even need a shower or to change. You can always get a seat. It’s a no-brainer. We’re losing pubs for the same reasons we’re losing the high street. Cost, convenience, and choice. People can communicate and talk to their friends and family all the time. The day of the single landline and having to actually meet up is long gone. If you want to pull, there’s Tinder. The pub’s essential services have been superceded. It’s not all about cost, it’s just the pub is the Blockbuster of the hospitality industry. Cinemas are dead too.
Individual_Net4063 on
If people have not caught on yet, the government doesn’t want pubs, it wants you healthy, so you are not a burden on the NHS.
UncannyPoint on
Does somewhere have the data from the last 30 years? To see if this is unusual.
I thought restaurants, pubs, clubs, and bars had a notoriously high failure/turnover rate.
edit: Just google it and there are identical stories of this happening last year. Need to see the rate over time with a similar time frame showing opening of new pubs and bars.
purgruv on
At this rate we will be at zero pubs well after the end of the universe.
RedofPaw on
This has nothing to do with smoking bans.
It’s got everything to do with people cutting back, not least younger generations who don’t really go out drinking as much.
Plus pints cost a fucking ridiculous amount.
balloonfish on
Not surprised at all. I can’t afford to drink at the pub lol
setokaiba22 on
I’m surprised there are any pubs left when you see stat headlines like this over the past few years. Then again it perhaps actually shows the sheer number of pubs we have..
IndividualCustomer50 on
People are drinking less, somehow 6 quid a pint is standard. Microwaved food, kids blasting shite out of loads, why bother?
Monkeyboogaloo on
It’s not just cost but it’s also people being healthier and societal change.
People don’t drink 5 pints a night, every night.
Men don’t leave their wife a children at home and go down the pub every night.
Younger generations don’t want the health problems that come with excessive drinking.
If you drink more than 8 units in a session you are a binge drinker. That’s 3 pints of 5% beer.
5 pints over the week puts you about the healthy drinking limit.
Without a drinking culture pubs shut.
Nothing to do with a smoking ban.
On a personal level I have cut my drinking way back.
In the 80 and 90s it was normal to have a pint a lunch, two on Friday, and go to the pub 4-5 nights a week.
So that’s 21+ pints a week or over 50 units.
I couldn’t imagine drinking that sort of ammount now.
Ironfields on
Pubs would probably be doing a lot better if a serious chunk of them weren’t captive markets to the breweries that own them.
Breweries heap all of the risk of the trade onto often inexperienced tenant landlords (many of them specifically look for inexperienced landlords which is just…eurgh) who are dependent on the brewery for their shelter as well as their product while they reap all of the benefits. It would be hard for any business (with the exception of well-known franchises like McDonalds) that is forced to use a designated supplier for their main product who can basically charge whatever they want and can also sue the owners and kick them out of their home if they try to secure a cheaper supply elsewhere to stay afloat.
Getting pubs out from under the yoke of breweries and into the hands of experienced landlords would probably do more to save the trade than cutting duty on drink that they’re making thin air on anyway.
dobbie1 on
Anecdotal experience but I went out at the beginning of August, Friday night, grabbed a Chinese meal and then went out with a group of 6 of us. The Chinese was full but the usually busy bars were dead. Yates, which used to be full with hundreds and a queue outside had 2 people in there. That’s not an exaggeration, at 10pm on a Friday, there was 2 people.
People just can’t afford it
Dark_Akarin on
Tbh, I can’t remember when I went in a pub for a drink. They are too over priced to use regularly.
Careless_Waltz_9802 on
I’m sure having less freedom in a pub at 10x the price of simply having a sesh at home is very appealing to people who are barely making money these days. Genius business strategy.
31 Comments
Transporting liquid is energy intensive
We’re trying to transition from abundance to scarcity
Yes, the answer to this is to ban smoking in pub gardens.
Don’t worry, another Pret/Greggs/Vape shop will take its place.
Is anyone surprised? No one can afford it. We all weep for our loss of historic public houses.. yet we do everything we can do prevent the very next generation from being able to afford drinking or eating in them.
We deserve this.
Not a surprise this place is becoming an increasingly miserable place.
There used to be 10 decent pubs within walking distance of my house (say 15 years ago). Now I’ve got one real ale microbrewery, the old cricket club and a pizza bar that’s full off wankers every night. The pubs that used to be there are now multi occupancy residential, vape shop, a couple of shit takeaways and a polish supermarket. 21st century (nothern) England
Not surprising. I’m a higher rate tax payer and can’t afford to drink in my local any more. It’s nearly £7 a pint. I’m actually not paying higher rate anymore because I quit my job in June. I’d stopped calling in for a few points way before then though. Drinking in pubs, especially in cities, just isn’t affordable any more.
I mean ideally pubs have no place is modern British anyway. The pub ‘lads’ tend to be very Islamophobic and pubs are a hotbed for Islamophobia. Even just there being so many pubs has undercurrents of making the country unwelcoming to Muslim immigrants who are strongly against drinking on religious grounds. People who complain about this need better things to do with their time
Pubs are a huge part of our culture and should be protected/use encouraged. They are a great social hub for smaller communities
If the drink was subsidised like the Government’s is, I’d probably visit more often
Absolute travesty. This country needs more third spaces for people to socialise. And it isn’t even that pubs are unviable in a fair market place – they’re paying disproportionately high business rates (in England), getting held over barrel by greedy offshore PubCos, and getting ready to be hit again by nanny state intervention with duty rises and outdoor smoking bans. Nevermind all of the other factors, like rising costs, that they share with other businesses.
Any other country would try to support such an iconic industry (that contributes £34bn to the economy and employs 1million + people). But in Britain we seem to want to let them suffer.
These are rookie number, labour wants to double down destroying this industry
We were chatting about this a few days ago (ironically while at the pub).
Over the past twenty years several pubs in my town have closed. But in that time several others have opened so now we have more than we did originally. The town has grown a fair bit in this time so you could argue that per head we have lost out. However thats not really the case.
Most of ones that closed were small, they were all old style ‘boozers’, did not serve food, were not historically significant in any way, a couple were flat roofed monstrosities and none of them were what you would call family friendly.
The new ones are generally much larger, all serve food, all are family friendly, we have gained lounge style bars, modern pub/restaurants and a sports pavilion. There is a lot more variety and we have more of a choice in what we can do.
I dont think the town we live in has lost out. In fact it has gained overall. But thats not the case everywhere. There is a village pub that we used to walk to a few times a year. It was always fairly busy when we visited but a couple of years ago it closed down and is now a house. That village no longer has a pub.
People will complain but I’m sorry there are more than enough pubs about in this country. Even a tiny village with no shops will have a pub or two.
Yes costa have increased but also drinking culture is on the decline and that is only a good thing overall.
The government can’t let this keep happening. The fabric of our culture is eroding in so many aspects. For fuck’s sake don’t increase alcohol tax and let pubs decide what their policies are on smoking. This is only going to continue unless labour do more.
Yep prices they charge mean people stay at home and drink
We can’t go on losing more and more and more third spaces for people to socialize and meet other people in.
Too many people are already too isolated and lonely and can’t afford to hang out at their local pubs and let their hair down with other human beings.
This is terrible for peoples’ social lives and there is seemingly just nothing replacing the places people would go to hang out.
Life is going to just get more and more miserable with things continuing down this route.
Business rates relief needs to be withdrawn gradually – whilst the tax is in desperate need of reform and essentially need lowering I don’t think it’s related to offering 75% discount in the hospitality and leisure industry.
Going from 75% relief to 0% in April would be a struggle for a lot of businesses so I can certainly see a strong argument for removing it over 2-3 years in aid of supporting businesses to adapt.
Drinking at home is far cheaper. You can smoke, food can be delivered, and streaming services are numerous. Gaming is huge. There’s no coked up dickheads, or violence. No cab fares and no waiting to be served. You don’t even need a shower or to change. You can always get a seat. It’s a no-brainer. We’re losing pubs for the same reasons we’re losing the high street. Cost, convenience, and choice. People can communicate and talk to their friends and family all the time. The day of the single landline and having to actually meet up is long gone. If you want to pull, there’s Tinder. The pub’s essential services have been superceded. It’s not all about cost, it’s just the pub is the Blockbuster of the hospitality industry. Cinemas are dead too.
If people have not caught on yet, the government doesn’t want pubs, it wants you healthy, so you are not a burden on the NHS.
Does somewhere have the data from the last 30 years? To see if this is unusual.
I thought restaurants, pubs, clubs, and bars had a notoriously high failure/turnover rate.
edit: Just google it and there are identical stories of this happening last year. Need to see the rate over time with a similar time frame showing opening of new pubs and bars.
At this rate we will be at zero pubs well after the end of the universe.
This has nothing to do with smoking bans.
It’s got everything to do with people cutting back, not least younger generations who don’t really go out drinking as much.
Plus pints cost a fucking ridiculous amount.
Not surprised at all. I can’t afford to drink at the pub lol
I’m surprised there are any pubs left when you see stat headlines like this over the past few years. Then again it perhaps actually shows the sheer number of pubs we have..
People are drinking less, somehow 6 quid a pint is standard. Microwaved food, kids blasting shite out of loads, why bother?
It’s not just cost but it’s also people being healthier and societal change.
People don’t drink 5 pints a night, every night.
Men don’t leave their wife a children at home and go down the pub every night.
Younger generations don’t want the health problems that come with excessive drinking.
If you drink more than 8 units in a session you are a binge drinker. That’s 3 pints of 5% beer.
5 pints over the week puts you about the healthy drinking limit.
Without a drinking culture pubs shut.
Nothing to do with a smoking ban.
On a personal level I have cut my drinking way back.
In the 80 and 90s it was normal to have a pint a lunch, two on Friday, and go to the pub 4-5 nights a week.
So that’s 21+ pints a week or over 50 units.
I couldn’t imagine drinking that sort of ammount now.
Pubs would probably be doing a lot better if a serious chunk of them weren’t captive markets to the breweries that own them.
Breweries heap all of the risk of the trade onto often inexperienced tenant landlords (many of them specifically look for inexperienced landlords which is just…eurgh) who are dependent on the brewery for their shelter as well as their product while they reap all of the benefits. It would be hard for any business (with the exception of well-known franchises like McDonalds) that is forced to use a designated supplier for their main product who can basically charge whatever they want and can also sue the owners and kick them out of their home if they try to secure a cheaper supply elsewhere to stay afloat.
Getting pubs out from under the yoke of breweries and into the hands of experienced landlords would probably do more to save the trade than cutting duty on drink that they’re making thin air on anyway.
Anecdotal experience but I went out at the beginning of August, Friday night, grabbed a Chinese meal and then went out with a group of 6 of us. The Chinese was full but the usually busy bars were dead. Yates, which used to be full with hundreds and a queue outside had 2 people in there. That’s not an exaggeration, at 10pm on a Friday, there was 2 people.
People just can’t afford it
Tbh, I can’t remember when I went in a pub for a drink. They are too over priced to use regularly.
I’m sure having less freedom in a pub at 10x the price of simply having a sesh at home is very appealing to people who are barely making money these days. Genius business strategy.