Just a very belated comment in response to an earlier one (From: Steve Parkes - Date: 15 Jun 99). He mentions visiting Yates's Wine Lodge in Blackpool (Mid to late 80's) being like a disco and ones in the Midlands (early 70's) being spartan. I would just comment that the difference has more to do with the date than the location.
My brother was working in a Blackpool around the end of the 1970's. I recall going to Fylde Folk Festival at Fleetwood, then catching a tram to Blackpool to visit for a day or two. One of the places we visited was the Wine Lodge, and at that time it fitted the same description as the Midlands ones. Long bars with barrels of sherry ready to turn a tap and fill a glass, sawdust covering the floor and populated by the type of drinker who would appreciate a half pint of sherry.
Yates's changed when the Yuppie Wine Bar became popular. I presume the company decided that it could make money from younger people, rather than a dwindling population of aging alcoholics who no pub would serve.
Quack!
GtD.