Obit: The Death of the English Pub.

Subject: RE: Obit: The Death of the English Pub.
From: Anne Lister
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 07:09 AM

I think like the rest of us pubs have got to work out how to adapt to the changing conditions around. There's a pub in Abergavenny which has earned our respect (and seems to be doing well) - they have good bar food, an acoustic music club (see where I'm coming from?), a film club, occasional comedy nights (we're off there tonight) and a restaurant. This has all happened in the past few months after an extensive re-fit.
Oh, and some people seem to go there just to drink, too ....

Anne

Subject: RE: Obit: The Death of the English Pub.
From: Acorn4
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 06:59 AM

The whole world seems to be run by swivel eyed accountants and look where it's got us!

Subject: RE: Obit: The Death of the English Pub.
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 06:44 AM

The initial post in this thread uses the term "breweries" - the whole (or a lot of ) problem is that breweries don't own pubs anymore and they are as much the victims of the likes of Enterprise Inns as are the licensees.

R

Subject: RE: Obit: The Death of the English Pub.
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 06:15 AM

A bit more current news on the same landlord and his campaign.

Subject: RE: Obit: The Death of the English Pub.
From: Folkiedave
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 06:06 AM

Certainly when I read about the "death of an English pub" I have a tremendous amount of sympathy with the people who struggle with the likes of Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns.

But there are oases of hope:

thread.cfm?threadid=118802&messages=6#2571765

Subject: RE: Obit: The Death of the English Pub.
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 06:01 AM

Landlords could try this

He was facing eviction because he refused to pay the increased rent. Don't know what has happened since. This article is from October 08. There is another thread about it. I will see if I can find it and make a blue clicky.

Subject: RE: Obit: The Death of the English Pub.
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 05:40 AM

Any good advice on how to save the threatened?

L in C

Subject: RE: Obit: The Death of the English Pub.
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 05:21 AM

As Hillaire Beloc wrote "when you have lost your inns, you may drown your empty selves for you will have lost the heart of England"

Subject: Obit: The Death of the English Pub.
From: Acorn4
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 05:07 AM

This was the title of a book produced by Camra in the seventies.

I think we are in a more serious situation than we were then over pubs hitting troubled times, as Camra's argument then was mainly over the quality of beer. When I drive from Leicester town centre to where I live in Groby, there are six or seven formerly busy pubs now boarded up, and none open.

What the recession is failing to do the government and breweries seem to be determined to. The excellent landlord and landlady of our village pub have turned it into a thriving establishment which also serves as a village youth club. They have been forced to call it a day because every time their profits go up, the brewery puts up their rent, and they feel they are just working like blue a***d flies to line someone else's pockets.

Last night we went to a pub in Shepshed where the upstairs room was packed for a folk night. Apparently the landlord has got into an argument about the brewery over a similar issue, and will be leaving.

Are we all to sit at home drinking cans and watching reality TV?

I thought I might put this on the "Non-Music", but it does affect our music directly.