BBC:
UK pubs closed at a rate of 52 per week in the first half of the year - a third more than the same period in 2008 - the British Beer & Pub Association said ... The association's chief executive, David Long, said that the economic pressures of the recession had been added to by the smoking ban, tax rises on alcohol and "regulatory burdens".
I can't afford to drink. One night out with a friend some time back cost the best part of £20 each including food - fine for a one off when meeting a long lost chum but on a two or three times a week basis, it's right out of the question. In the supermarket, a halway decent wine is £13.
I'd love to support my local pub, the source of community cohesion the Browneans wish to demolish - most might feel this way also if it's not a dive and serves good food. I simply can't afford to now. I can't even afford a train.
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The pubs of JD Wetherspoon plc are evidently doing all right - which rather shows what good management can do:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/investors/financial-reports/
"In the supermarket, a halway decent wine is £13": do you often drink in the halway, Hob?
ReplyDeleteP.S. We've just bought a bottle of McWilliam's Mt Elizabeth Semillon 2001 for £9.99. I'm fairly confident that it'll prove to be halfway decent.
That seems terribly expensive for wine!!
ReplyDelete£9.99 doesn't seem expensive for a birthday wine.
ReplyDeleteOops! sorry dearieme I was referring to the cost of the wine James was referring to in the supermarket.
ReplyDelete£9.99 does indeed seem a reasonable price for a birthday wine. Cheers Happy Birthday :-)
Bob - we'll go to Wetherspoons.
ReplyDeleteDearieme - the halway is the best place for a tipple, so nobody can watch you through the window. Mind you, my window is on the fourth floor.
Cherie - we'll have to look out for the Liz Semolina.
Eh? Whose birthday? Dearieme's. Happy birthday.
I know in Romford too many of the pubs just cater for under 25s. Very little in the town centre for middle aged curmudgeons, sadly
ReplyDeleteSam Smith's too is a good chain and better beers than Wetherspoons.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you James on the sadness of the departure of the pub- I also feel in London that so many pubs are just unpleasant because they are too busy- I want somewhere to sit into the evening chatting with friends- not a pit with seventy million other human beings screaming at each toher in order to hear each other!
£13?? My god!
ReplyDeleteCrimini! Pubs closing in Merry Old England? What the hell's gonna happen next? It's time for a change. You guys need to elect yourselves an Indian... no, it needs to be someone who likes to drink... a Scotsman! Jackie Stewart. At least he'll keep F1 at Silverstone where it belongs.
ReplyDeleteWelshcakes, you are privileged, don't forget - in the land of wine, water is more expensive (even if it does come in tankers - Ha!). I forgive you your surprise, but think of the poor people left behind!
ReplyDeletejams - back in the day when there were still cattle stalls in Romford market, I bet the pubs were better. Unfortunately, I was so young at the time that I don't even remember their names...