On average over 35 close each week. I was in the pub trade for many years, each year was a struggle, I have had several offers over recent years to get back in it. The only time the pub got busy was when sport was on or if there was live music at weekends. I sold up when the right offer came along and now the pub has closed down.

No one can compete with Spoons but they are closing some pubs even in well-populated student towns and cities. I guess they stick to bars that offer student discounts like £1 for shots and £2 for everything else apart from cocktails.

People's drinking habits are changing and pubs are just restaurants these days. Most young people tend to go to coffee shops or karaoke bars rather than pubs. Near me, there were 2 pubs one was a former Harvester it's now being converted into 6 bedsits. The other pub is being converted into two flats.

It's sad but true but drinking at home and being bored is cheaper than a night out. Even the cheap drinking dives are a thing of the past now. I did go past some of the rock clubs from my younger days they were either boarded up or flats. It's a shame, seeing a tribute band in one of those clubs was about £5 at the door, £2 for pints and £2.50 shorts. Now seeing a tribute band today can cost an arm and a leg - £44 for Illegal Eagles.

In Ireland, most of my old drinking holes have closed or turned into bistros.


Now banter could be banned in pubs.

www.yahoo.com/news/closing-time-free-spe...itish-110205501.html

Wetherspoons have been the market's game-changer - although, perhaps, not everyone's cup of tea.

Innovative - banned smoking before the government; no dogs or music; town/city centres mainly.

Replaced the Workingmens/Town/Labour Clubs, breakfast cafes - and open at 8am. My nearest competitor opens at noon.

New ideas deserve success - the British pub industry was in the dark ages. JDW is now a PLC - with annual income of £2B+.

Large new outlets in Euston, Waterloo, London Bridge, Newcastle, Fulham Broadway, Marlow - here, or on the way.

And nearly 60 hotels too - ranked 3 in the UK; beating Marriot/Holiday Inn etc. Sir Tim saw the gap - and filled it!

Green Man wrote:
Now banter could be banned in pubs


Interesting that JDWetherspoons don't encourage staff/customer conversations. Sitting at the bar isn't allowed.

I lived for 18 months in my Uncle & Aunt's pub when young when my Mum was very ill.

I have great admiration for traditional pub owners..such hard work and almost a 24 hour job.

The smoking ban I think hit many of the seedier dens of iniquity. See more punters stood outside in the cold with fags on than are inside. And yes youngsters in the main these days very different to the mullet flared trousered brigade of the 70s and 80s. Kicking out at 11, a kebab and a punch up, and then down the disco until 2. Wake up next to a beached whale, stagger back home, collapse under your T Rex poster, then downstairs for Sunday lunch, raised brows, stinking of old socks, stale Brut, and No 6. Those days as dead as the jukebox, the last dance danced long ago, the winklepickers pickled, the Ballet left the Spandau.

Downing Street Cat wrote:
The smoking ban I think hit many of the seedier dens of iniquity. See more punters stood outside in the cold with fags on than are inside. And yes youngsters in the main these days very different to the mullet flared trousered brigade of the 70s and 80s. Kicking out at 11, a kebab and a punch up, and then down the disco until 2. Wake up next to a beached whale, stagger back home, collapse under your T Rex poster, then downstairs for Sunday lunch, raised brows, stinking of old socks, stale Brut, and No 6. Those days as dead as the jukebox, the last dance danced long ago, the winklepickers pickled, the Ballet left the Spandau.

Not forgetting clubs and boozers were cheap back then Cat. You go out with £20 and still have change left over for the following weekend. £20 is about 2 rounds of pints in some places. Going for a night out can cost well over £100-£200. I suppose it's ok if you live at home still.

I use to joke with my parents that with £5 you could take a bird out and still have a change for the bus and a large portion of chips.

When you are clubbing these days, it's scary to see many young people scared to ask a girl for a dance or offer her drink. You see many clubbers on phones. To be honest I do feel old going to clubs but it's good for a laugh.

There does seem to be very cheesy and crappy setlists these days.

Many of the rock clubs I went to most of the women were there with boyfriends or husbands, but if you asked nicely you could have a dance if you didn't go too far.

Some places do allow vaping, which bugs me. I hate the sweet smelling vape clouds.


If Spoons can't survive in a shit hole like Swindon it's says a lot IMHO. I like music at the places I drink.



www.timeout.com/uk/news/more-wetherspoon...ing-full-list-080323

Downing Street Cat wrote:
The smoking ban I think hit many of the seedier dens of iniquity. See more punters stood outside in the cold with fags on than are inside. And yes youngsters in the main these days very different to the mullet flared trousered brigade of the 70s and 80s. Kicking out at 11, a kebab and a punch up, and then down the disco until 2. Wake up next to a beached whale, stagger back home, collapse under your T Rex poster, then downstairs for Sunday lunch, raised brows, stinking of old socks, stale Brut, and No 6. Those days as dead as the jukebox, the last dance danced long ago, the winklepickers pickled, the Ballet left the Spandau.
Great post!

It seems not even the local communities can save their local boozer. It's nearly a tenner a pint these days depending on what pub you are in. Personally, a pint should not be more than £2-3 but pint prices pay the bills, staff and any other overheads. I think in the 1990s pints were about £1. £1.50, in the 80s it was 50 pence.

I was in Harvester yesterday, when I looked at the wine list the Harvester sell table at about £20 but it's the same ones that are only a few pounds in supermarkets. My partner shared a one-pint glass for soda drink refills.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g0j43lgrro

Green Man wrote:
It's nearly a tenner a pint these days - a pint should not be more than £2-3


The market decides....



catererlicensee.com/wetherspoons-reports...amid-rising-costs/#:

I do think local, independent community pubs are wonderful things, and I mourn their hey-day. They do seem to be in terminal decline. , I agree.

I think Weatherspoons dominance is a symptom of a dying civilization; alcoholic shift workers sitting alone, not interacting, at ten in morning.

To me they are soul less institutions. They are not really anything to do with the centuries old English pub tradition, which like the church, played such a vital role in bringing comnunities, and the old and young, together.

You are preaching to the choir Barney, I know how it is set. It's putting people off that the issue.

A cheap pint over with meat pie was nice lunch time lunch for many now it's a luxury like fish and chips. Even chippies are getting stingy with portions but the prices are still high.

There is more life than Spoons, I use to know Tim Martin. I think he is an arrogant piece of work.

He is the one pushed for Brexit without giving a valid reason why.

Green Man wrote:
He is the one pushed for Brexit without giving a valid reason why

As you missed it, GM...


en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Martin_

Wyot wrote:
I do think local, independent community pubs are wonderful things, and I mourn their hey-day. They do seem to be in terminal decline. , I agree.

I think Weatherspoons dominance is a symptom of a dying civilization; alcoholic shift workers sitting alone, not interacting, at ten in morning.

To me they are soul less institutions. They are not really anything to do with the centuries old English pub tradition, which like the church, played such a vital role in bringing comnunities, and the old and young, together.


The world is changing! Most people in Wetherspoons at 10am are either having breakfast or coffee (unlimited refills for c£1.70).

And they play a vital role in communities - having replaced the Workingmens/Village/Town Clubs etc. Opening at 8am - when the competition starts work at noon!

Credit where it's due - and saving historic buildings too. The Royal Opera House, in Tunbridge Wells, must be the finest pub in this country.

Al Gershwin wrote:
[quote]Wyot wrote:



The world is changing! Most people in Wetherspoons at 10am are either having breakfast or coffee (unlimited refills for c£1.70).

And they play a vital role in communities - having replaced the Workingmens/Village/Town Clubs etc. Opening at 8am - when the competition starts work at noon!

Credit where it's due - and saving historic buildings too. The Royal Opera House, in Tunbridge Wells, must be the finest pub in this country.

I'm sorry Barney as I am pretty sure you are associated with Weatherspoons, but I just don't agree that they are "community centres" because people don't commune in them.

And I don't consider a building that once hosted opera - but is now a Weatherspoons - to be indicative of the onward march of civilisation...

So he caters for the unemployed, alkies, druggies and single mums. Pretty much the same thing.

Al Gershwin wrote:
Wyot wrote:
I do think local, independent community pubs are wonderful things, and I mourn their hey-day. They do seem to be in terminal decline. , I agree.

I think Weatherspoons dominance is a symptom of a dying civilization; alcoholic shift workers sitting alone, not interacting, at ten in morning.

To me they are soul less institutions. They are not really anything to do with the centuries old English pub tradition, which like the church, played such a vital role in bringing comnunities, and the old and young, together.


The world is changing! Most people in Wetherspoons at 10am are either having breakfast or coffee (unlimited refills for c£1.70).

And they play a vital role in communities - having replaced the Workingmens/Village/Town Clubs etc. Opening at 8am - when the competition starts work at noon!

Credit where it's due - and saving historic buildings too. The Royal Opera House, in Tunbridge Wells, must be the finest pub in this country.

I was never really a pub person, I'm more of a cafe patron,
but what I've noticed is the absence of the cheap and cheerful greasy spoon cafes.. simple food at cheap prices..
Everywhere is fancy..a few little trimmings on top and they charge to the hill for it (is that the right expression..?)..

Now smashed avo on sour dough bread is like AU$26 and bacon and eggs on toast $28

Cappuccino $5 to $6 for a small.

A slice of cake $9 to $16

Then there's credit card surcharges
Weekend surcharges
Public Holiday surcharges

Restaurants and cafes that don't accept cash and are card only, but still charge a credit card surcharge..

No wonder more and more people are eating at home and avoiding the dining out ripoff economy..

Just my humble view..

david au wrote:
I was never really a pub person, I'm more of a cafe patron,
but what I've noticed is the absence of the cheap and cheerful greasy spoon cafes.. simple food at cheap prices..
Everywhere is fancy..a few little trimmings on top and they charge to the hill for it (is that the right expression..?)..

Now smashed avo on sour dough bread is like AU$26 and bacon and eggs on toast $28

Cappuccino $5 to $6 for a small.

A slice of cake $9 to $16

Then there's credit card surcharges
Weekend surcharges
Public Holiday surcharges

Restaurants and cafes that don't accept cash and are card only, but still charge a credit card surcharge..

No wonder more and more people are eating at home and avoiding the dining out ripoff economy..

Just my humble view..

According to Barney surcharges don't exist.

Wyot wrote:
I am pretty sure you are associated with Weatherspoons

My only connection with JDW.L is that I dabble profitably in their shares; it'd be difficult not to! Sir Tim Martin has become a very wealthy individual.

When visiting a new town (to me), I'll often have a snack/coffee in their central location - and read the local history (and view the old pics) on the walls.

Al Gershwin wrote:
Wyot wrote:
I am pretty sure you are associated with Weatherspoons

My only connection with JDW.L is that I dabble profitably in their shares; it'd be difficult not to! Sir Tim Martin has become a very wealthy individual.

When visiting a new town (to me), I'll often have a snack/coffee in their central location - and read the local history (and view the old pics) on the walls.

Good for you! And sounds like a pleasant way to spend an hour or two...