Some good points, PMB.

Mind you, I think that's a large part of the problem today with landlords. They still don't want to encourage activities which might interfere with their business whether it be the football/sports fans watching the big screen or "family meals" and the like.

So many of the pubs were are quite "desparate" today as well.

However, I started drinking in the sixties(I shouldn't have been) but I can still recall some very nice pubs too. They often had nice snugs and lounges which were ideal for gatherings. Nowadays, most of these have been "knocked into" large rooms.

Glasgow and The West Central Belt may have been a bit different but there were certainly nice establishments "Up North" and in Edinburgh too when I visited. Also in Aberdeen, as I recall.