Went To The Pub For Fathers Day

[AdV]

Although I'm sure it is tough times for pubs/restaurants in the current climate. Don't you think with regards of pubs/restaurant being empty this particular Father's Day, could it be that people were saving petrol because of the petrol strike? And therefore not wanting to drive anywhere?

[Jim B.]

Perhaps all the fathers wanted to stay home and watch the cricket and football?

As the economic situation gets worse in the next few years I can see pubs disappearing at quite a rapid rate. Drinking in pubs is a luxury now, not the norm it was in past times.

Two pubs near me have recently been boarded up. True, a man was killed outside of one of them a couple of weeks back, but they were both shitholes anyway so won't be missed.

[kingsgate]

The only way to make money from a pub these days is to own the freehold.

Otherwise you end up getting totally had over by greedy pubcos who insist that you buy their overpriced beer, and then put your annual rent up loads every few years.

[billy-g]

With the slim margins available on a pint these days, I'm not surprised more pubs are going down. I had a small interest in a bar that I sold off in 2004, and back then we were only making 12p on a pint of lager. Now, I believe it's worse. The big cash cow was food, but the price of quality ingredients has almost trebled since '04, and cheap skilled kitchen labour is almost impossible to come by.

I can see us getting a lot more like the traditional USA and Canadian model, where only the really lower class people go to bars, with the higher up the food chain tyrpes choosing to go to each others homes and drink and eat there. Still, at least in Canada etc. you get the weather to have 10 friends round and sit on the decking, eating and drinking. In the UK, you'll need one monster of a patio heater!

[Caribbean Beauty]

With the slim margins available on a pint these days, I'm not surprised more pubs are going down. I had a small interest in a bar that I sold off in 2004, and back then we were only making 12p on a pint of lager. Now, I believe it's worse. The big cash cow was food, but the price of quality ingredients has almost trebled since '04, and cheap skilled kitchen labour is almost impossible to come by.

I can see us getting a lot more like the traditional USA and Canadian model, where only the really lower class people go to bars, with the higher up the food chain tyrpes choosing to go to each others homes and drink and eat there. Still, at least in Canada etc. you get the weather to have 10 friends round and sit on the decking, eating and drinking. In the UK, you'll need one monster of a patio heater!

Yes, Calgary in winter is famous for its perfect-for-BBQ in swimwear temperatures

[qazwas1]

Quote "We drove through Cheltenham on the way and the roads were shockingly quiet. Same experience on a jaunt to Hereford last Sunday lunchtime.

If people are cutting back heavily on their leisure driving to be sure they have the fuel to commute then surely we are headed for trouble, because frankly if that's what's really going on, life is turning to crap".

Have to say so many of my friends and family are choosing to plan trips or walk, cycle etc; and boozy nights down the pub are out. No one is interested. Is life turning to crap... or a return to expensive motoring and mothers walking to school instead of driving the 500yds in their 4x4..hmmmmm. I know what I prefer.

[this_prisoner_is_opting_out]

Yes, Calgary in winter is famous for its perfect-for-BBQ in swimwear temperatures

ROFL - yes, I was wondering myself whether this was the same Canada frequently referred to as the "great white north"? Or maybe this is the Caribbean Canada?

I love a naked bbq-ing in the Yukon.

[billy-g]

Is the stupiity breeding with you two?

Read the post. It says socialising in each others homes as well as outside.

As thats how they do it when I visit the place. In summer, it's warm enough to do it outside, in winter, it's all inside for a party.

It's a culture shock from going to the pub like here at home, but you get used to it quickly.

Edited to add smiley!

Edited June 16, 2008 by billy-g

[Bootsox]

On a similar theme, I regularly drive 'round the North West. Places like Bolton, Blackburn, Stalybridge, Accrington, etc and the recent increase in the number of boarded up pubs is astonishing.

As has been said, maybe the smoking ban was the last straw but some of these places must have already been hanging on by a thread.

Sometimes I think it must be down to a succession of sh*te landlords because I know of some real backstreet pubs in Blackburn who still seem to be doing OK.

Ultimately, I think a lot is to do with the price of a pint: easy to get through £10/£15 each on a modest night out.

Regards

Sox

Edited June 16, 2008 by Bootsox

[xux42]

Is life turning to crap... or a return to expensive motoring and mothers walking to school instead of driving the 500yds in their 4x4..

Sorry I should have been clearer, I meant if people are having to stop going to leisure activities where the car is the only option, in order to conserve fuel for a long tiring commute, then life is turning to crap.

Surely some people are going to think "What the hell am I doing!" after a while.

All in favour of paying the true cost of motoring and more people walking and cycling locally though - hey, they might just start talking to their neighbours.... No hang on, now I'm just being silly.

[mitchbux]

Greene King took over the local brewery last year and snapped up two of the oldest pubs in Nottingham. The other is on the city square and closed until the end of June for a 1.5million refit.

I take it that is The Bell Inn? I hope they don't ruin that place. I have fond memories of many perfect pints in that place. IMHO the best pint of "Old Puke" you'll find outside of Masham.

[Granite]

I'm good friends with my local landlord in Edinburgh (the wife used to work there), and she says that the whole industry is hanging by a thread.

While the smoking ban was a bit of a blow to start with, things bounced back really quickly, mainly because smokers quickly adjusted to popping outside, and a lot more customers started to come in who normally wouldn't drink in a smokey pub.

However, over the last year or so there seem to be a huge number of regulations popping up to hassle real ale pubs and breweries, generally under the heading of health and safety, which seem utterly pointless for small pubs. From discussions, it seems like the government has something against small independent pubs, and only wants custom designed chain pubs like Wetherspoons. The wild disparity in prices between chain pubs and everyone else is a bit of a hint (IPA £1.50 in Wetherspoons, £2.75 everywhere else).

Thankfully my local's propped up by the fact it's a legendary whiskey selections (over 180 single malts) which tends to attract the tourists, plus a very solid crowd of regulars.

[Sheer Heart Attack]

While the smoking ban was a bit of a blow to start with, things bounced back really quickly, mainly because smokers quickly adjusted to popping outside, and a lot more customers started to come in who normally wouldn't drink in a smokey pub...

Thankfully my local's propped up by the fact it's a legendary whiskey selections (over 180 single malts) which tends to attract the tourists, plus a very solid crowd of regulars.

I must admit that I'm pleased for your landlord friend as he's done a lot better than many of his contemporaries since the ban in Scotland. 180 choices? That's commitment!

56% of licencees in Scotland have reported a fall in turnover since the ban (Morning Advertiser).

The Scottish Government do really seem to have it in for the licenced trade as well, with apparently doubling licencing fees and a hatred for the drinker even worse than the UK government.

Poor sods. Trying to cope with all that in an economic downturn must be doubly bad.

[Miss Madam]

I used to go out to the pub 2 or 3 nights a week, but haven't really been out for a fortnight. I guess when house prices were sky high there was so little motivation for me to really focus on building up a deposit (I live in Oxford and whilst on a very good wage the houses I'm looking at are still 8 times my salary, and no I really don't want a studio flat to get on the ladder, I want a house to prep for Peak Oil that has a garden) - but now house prices are moving in the right direction it has really got my **** into gear in terms of saving. I can see getting on the ladder coming (ok not for the next three years at least) into the realms of possibility for me. Plus lots of my mates smoke, and rather than pay £4 for a glass of wine, I'd rather pay £5 for a bottle and go round to a mates. My local landlord, who I used to work for to save up some cash to pay off uni debts is in mucho trouble, he's not even breaking even. I left when I found out the tax contributions he was taking off my cash wage, were mysteriously not ending up with the taxman - he's a nice guy, so I didn't shop him as I know he's in doo dah....

[Telometer]

Interesting comparison you state about last year.

I was at a London restaurant today with the family for Father's Day lunch and we were the only table celebrating the occasion (no other families amongst the other tables). Thought it was a bit odd because we went there for Mother's Day too and there were other families that time.

Probably because Mothering Sunday is an ancient feast of the church. Whereas "Fathers day" is an invention of Clinton Cards marketing department. Bah Humbug. Never celebrated it with my father, and my children (deo volente) never will with me.

[SpiceWorld!]

There is a pub on the corner of Paddington Street and Chiltern Street called the apollo (underneath the NCP carpark - Marylebone area) that is closed "for refurbishment". I was cynical about it when it closed some months ago and nothing seems to have happened yet. I have long suspected it was a managed closure rathern than a refurb project.

[oneleftleg]

Well seeing as I am actually living just south of Calgary, perhaps I should put this home entertaining debate to rest!

I can confirm that largely due to the big distances between things (50km to our nearest town) we do 90% of our entertaining at home and yes we do do a lot of it outside! We barbecue all year round (except perhaps during the week when it hit -50c) and had a great party outside in March when the snow was still on the ground, we stacked the beer up in the snow drifts... I have photos to prove it! :-)

I do still miss UK pubs though! :-)

[Garry AKA Pod]

Probably because Mothering Sunday is an ancient feast of the church. Whereas "Fathers day" is an invention of Clinton Cards marketing department. Bah Humbug. Never celebrated it with my father, and my children (deo volente) never will with me.

Not surprised they won't celebrate it with you after you named them deo and volente!

[The 4 Horsemen]

Just been to an Indian restaurant I thought a Thursday night with all this gloom about. I was expecting it to be empty but no it was rammed we had to wait outside for 15 minutes before they let us in.

[Guest Bart of Darkness]

Ultimately, I think a lot is to do with the price of a pint: easy to get through £10/£15 each on a modest night out.

I meet up with 3 other freelance colleagues about once a fortnight. Average cost for a round of drinks for 4 people is about £11/12.00. We're often there from late afternoon to late evening, so a spend of around £30.00 for me is not uncommon. And this is slow, steady drinking.

Place definitely quieter than say, this time last year.

Not surprised they won't celebrate it with you after you named them deo and volente!

[charley]

We've just returned from holiday and all the brits I was chatting to were talking about house prices dropping, state of the economy, nobody having any money and how this would probably be their last holiday for a few years due to the need to tighten their belts (or inability to mew lol). So I thought when I got back to work things would have been quieter. Oh no, first night back I was called into the office to see if I can work a few DAYTIME shifts to cover Monday, tuesday and thursday days because it's so busy.

Tuesday night we were fully booked with no room for an walk ins (weather was fantastic though so would have helped). Wednesday night, room for a few walk-ins but at least an hour wait and it was drizzly outside. I had several people comment on the credit crunch and that's why they thought they wouldn't need to book because no-one has any money. Tempted to respond with 'well you're here'.

So, has this whole thing not yet hit Kent and should I grab as much overtime as possible ready for a quiet restaurant later in the year, or is it just a regional thing?

[kingsgate]

On a similar theme, I regularly drive 'round the North West. Places like Bolton, Blackburn, Stalybridge, Accrington, etc and the recent increase in the number of boarded up pubs is astonishing.

As has been said, maybe the smoking ban was the last straw but some of these places must have already been hanging on by a thread.

Sometimes I think it must be down to a succession of sh*te landlords because I know of some real backstreet pubs in Blackburn who still seem to be doing OK.

Ultimately, I think a lot is to do with the price of a pint: easy to get through £10/£15 each on a modest night out.

Regards

Sox

So much with pubs depends on who owns them: even a quiet backstreet "local" can make sense if it is owned, freehold, by the man pulling the pints, and he has had it for ages, so no big loan to pay off, and no ruinous lease payments, or horrible deal whereby he has to buy his beer at inflated prices from the pubco.

[ianbeale]

i think the acid test of all this will be football attendances from august. nothing like a half empty stadium on match of the day/sky to bring it home to the sheeple

come on you spurs (£42 sod that)

[Sheer Heart Attack]

One of my best mates is gay and the good lady and I went out with him last night for his birthday.

The scene was dead last night. If gay guys' disposable incomes aren't being spent in bars, something is very wrong.

[Caribbean Beauty]

One of my best mates is gay and the good lady and I went out with him last night for his birthday.

The scene was dead last night. If gay guys' disposable incomes aren't being spent in bars, something is very wrong.

Yes, when the pink pound stays in the closet, the economy is buggered. Won't affect my business much though (Caribbean tourism) since - sadly - the local homophobes have always done all within their power to keep gay tourists away from this region. Short-sighted self-harming fools (I mean the homophobes, not the homosexuals).