FabSwingers.com forum: pubs closing

By *eavenNhell OP Couple
over a year ago

carrbrook stalybridge

just gone on my facebook to see pics being put up of yet another local pub being demolished .

had to laugh at all the comments from the ex regulars on there moaning about the pub shutting and how they used to enjoy a few pints in there . ran to about 150 individual posts when i pointed out it was lack of their custom the forced the closure one or two get a tad upset . cant have it both ways if you dont support the pub there is only gonna be one outcome

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

it's very sad that lots of pubs are closing, we have been in many recently where we are the only customers

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The smoking ban really didn't help.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I hope they are not shut yet, need me white lightening

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Local pubs have been crucified by the smoking ban and the disparity in cost between a pint in a supermarket (say £1.50) compared to a pint in the pub (minimum £3.00 and in London £4-5.00). So more pubs will close, the fittest will survive and the high street will continue to change. I guess it is all part of an evolving society.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

"The smoking ban really didn't help."

I think its a combination of the smoking ban, the drinking and driving element, costs and changing tastes.

I know of a very successful small pub but it is in walking distance of its many regulars and serves excellent food without being pretentious about it. Too many places are (of necessity) restaurants first and pubs second. I also think that the days of the man going out for his weekday evening pint, Saturday and Sunday afternoon bevvies are largely gone.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

we stopped going to pubs when the smoking ban was introduced ...couldnt see the point in my fella sat in the pub whilst im stood outside

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *mandaKnightleyTV/TS
over a year ago

Hinckley

The smoking ban certainly didn't help but there has been a significant decline in the last 25 years. One of the biggest causes is that the pubco, the company which owns the building and supplies the landlord with beer under an exclusive supply agreement, is extracting all the profit out of the landlord's business.

But behaviours are changing; people aren't drinking as much. And wine has replaced beer as the drink of choice in many parts of the country.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

"just gone on my facebook to see pics being put up of yet another local pub being demolished .

.......... "

Was this a pub built into a row of houses or shops or a stand alone with a car park round about it type place?

I imagine the development value of the standalone pub with extra space could be considerable.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

High prices, cultural changes, unfair pubco arrangements all have played a part. Some of the land values of pubs must make them attractive places to sell on.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Valid point if you want to keep your local you need to support it by using it makes sense!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Valid point if you want to keep your local you need to support it by using it makes sense!

Our village has gone from having 5 pubs half empty most of the time to just 2 that are now pretty packed most of the time. It is evolution, and the atmosphere in both places is significantly better because they are both full.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

People don't like being ripped off so they stop going , not the owners fault its all the greedy bastard suppliers

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"People don't like being ripped off so they stop going , not the owners fault its all the greedy bastard suppliers "

Really ? Owners of Freeholds can source their own suppliers such as Wholesalers but still they buy from Breweries because they get good discounts for bulk orders, Its called supply and demand, if people are prepared to pay top price for drinks then the owner will happily charge that price

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A lot of it depends on how the pub manages its business.

Slowly those which don't offer good service will disappear.

It's not all about serving food, often at a loss.

Quality will always succeed and delivering a service the customer wants, from theme bars to ale houses.

The big chain pubs are driven in a high turnover and narrow margins.

Small pubs and tenancies will find it hard to make a profit because they can't get discount through their suppliers.

Rightly or wrongly the smoking ban had a huge impact on the trade, and the increasing gap between supermarket and bar prices will be the nail in the coffin for many businesses

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

many pubs have shut down here,but we do have a few corner mini pubs opening up.it is the cost of a drink and also the fear of a driving ban that affects many people.and it cheaper to drink in the comfort of your own home,then stagger up to bed.although it doesnt have the atmostphere of the pub.but its not a problem for me as i dont drink alcohol.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"The smoking ban really didn't help."

also the cost of drinks helped

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago

Somewhere in North Norfolk

I'm glad of the smoking ban. I can now go to a pub if I want to.

Unfortunately I can rarely afford to at thre moment. I think it's the same for a lot of people.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

That Queen Vic will never shut. Doesnt matter what their income but most of the Albert sq community are in every night!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"The smoking ban really didn't help."

Helped the non-smokers though!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *empting Devil.Woman
over a year ago

Sheffield

Quite a few are being turned into local supermarkets too.

The latest one near me is going to be a Sainsburys and yet there's a co-op, an asda, a nisa and a big Sainsburys all in easy walking distance.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *otlovefun42Couple
over a year ago

Costa Blanca Spain...

"The smoking ban really didn't help.

Helped the non-smokers though!"

The problem is that many, if not most, regular (as opposed to occasional) pub users were smokers.

Now given the choice of standing outside freezing their nuts off every time they want a ciggie, or staying at home, they tend to pick the latter.

I will admit pubs were already in decline before the smoking ban. A combination of Pubco's, high business rates, expensive energy costs, smaller margins, and an already dwindling customer base had driven many under, but making them an unfriendly environment to a sizeable chunk of their customers certainly didn't help.

I have to smile though when I remember some of the things that were said at the time of the ban. Like "pubs will be better off because more non smokers will use them"

Obviously didn't happen.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

"The smoking ban really didn't help.

Helped the non-smokers though!

The problem is that many, if not most, regular (as opposed to occasional) pub users were smokers.

Now given the choice of standing outside freezing their nuts off every time they want a ciggie, or staying at home, they tend to pick the latter........"

And good riddance.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago

Somewhere in North Norfolk

"The smoking ban really didn't help.

Helped the non-smokers though!

The problem is that many, if not most, regular (as opposed to occasional) pub users were smokers.

Now given the choice of standing outside freezing their nuts off every time they want a ciggie, or staying at home, they tend to pick the latter.

I have to smile though when I remember some of the things that were said at the time of the ban. Like "pubs will be better off because more non smokers will use them"

Obviously didn't happen."

Can't bloody afford to, thanks to our robbing government, the banks and greedy large companies not paying tax.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

"The smoking ban really didn't help.

Helped the non-smokers though!

The problem is that many, if not most, regular (as opposed to occasional) pub users were smokers.

Now given the choice of standing outside freezing their nuts off every time they want a ciggie, or staying at home, they tend to pick the latter.

I have to smile though when I remember some of the things that were said at the time of the ban. Like "pubs will be better off because more non smokers will use them"

Obviously didn't happen.

Can't bloody afford to, thanks to our robbing government, the banks and greedy large companies not paying tax."

That's closer to the truth. The smoking ban, the downturn, unemployment, domestic bills etc all in quick succession were too much for many pubs.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

we have 9 pubs in our small town and they are all thriving with their own type of clientele, some do food and some don't and they all stop serving food at approx 7pm. 4 Indian restaurants and 2 takeaways ones, 2 Chinese restaurants and 2 takeaways. 1 pizza delivery service and a kabab shop.

God knows how many coffee shops, but to my amazement they all survive even though we are quite seasonal where we are.

Now you take a shop it's a very different matter all together they find it very hard to succeed!! Ruby

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I'm glad of the smoking ban. I can now go to a pub if I want to.

Unfortunately I can rarely afford to at thre moment. I think it's the same for a lot of people. "

Exactly the same for me.... I love going out but at the moment I can get a bottle of wine for the same price a glass of wine will cost me in a pub....xx

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Maybe planners/govt etc also need to value the contribution of a pub to a community and make it a bit easier for landlords to make a profit and to stop the likes of Tesco taking over the world.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *himanMan
over a year ago

chichester

there turning into co-op round us

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

"Maybe planners/govt etc also need to value the contribution of a pub to a community and make it a bit easier for landlords to make a profit and to stop the likes of Tesco taking over the world."

Yet we have the mixed message from the Scottish Executive which wishes to impose minimum pricing per unit of alcohol "on health grounds" whilst the proposed legislation ensures the profit from the increased prices goes to the retailer ie the likes of Tesco.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There as been some very valid points raised here, smoking ban and supermarket prices have certainly affected the business, but the main reason that a lot of pubs are shutting down is the pub companies who run them and their extortionate rents they charge their tenants, making it impossible for them to make a living

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *otlovefun42Couple
over a year ago

Costa Blanca Spain...

"The smoking ban really didn't help.

Helped the non-smokers though!

The problem is that many, if not most, regular (as opposed to occasional) pub users were smokers.

Now given the choice of standing outside freezing their nuts off every time they want a ciggie, or staying at home, they tend to pick the latter........

And good riddance."

So you are a regular in your local then?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

As an ex publican running a village pub I have first hand experience, the smoking ban didn't help, supermarkets subsidising or loss leading alcohol sales and the final nail in the coffin as pointed out is the greedy pubcos!!! You can't compete when your rent and beer costs are so high to start with ........ More will close, it's so sad

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

"The smoking ban really didn't help.

Helped the non-smokers though!

The problem is that many, if not most, regular (as opposed to occasional) pub users were smokers.

Now given the choice of standing outside freezing their nuts off every time they want a ciggie, or staying at home, they tend to pick the latter........

And good riddance.

So you are a regular in your local then?"

D'ye mean regular or frequent?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *otlovefun42Couple
over a year ago

Costa Blanca Spain...

"The smoking ban really didn't help.

Helped the non-smokers though!

The problem is that many, if not most, regular (as opposed to occasional) pub users were smokers.

Now given the choice of standing outside freezing their nuts off every time they want a ciggie, or staying at home, they tend to pick the latter.

I have to smile though when I remember some of the things that were said at the time of the ban. Like "pubs will be better off because more non smokers will use them"

Obviously didn't happen.

Can't bloody afford to, thanks to our robbing government, the banks and greedy large companies not paying tax."

Maybe if the UK lowered it's taxes then those company's would pay them in the UK instead of Luxembourg.

Just a thought.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

"...........

Can't bloody afford to, thanks to our robbing government, the banks and greedy large companies not paying tax.

Maybe if the UK lowered it's taxes then those company's would pay them in the UK instead of Luxembourg.

Just a thought."

Just what the UK needs, a race to the bottom. A race we can't possibly win.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *illwill69uMan
over a year ago

moston

"Can't bloody afford to, thanks to our robbing government, the banks and greedy large companies not paying tax.

Maybe if the UK lowered it's taxes then those company's would pay them in the UK instead of Luxembourg.

Just a thought."

Or of course we could tax the movement of untaxed money out of the UK at say 98% and jail the directors of firms found to be cooking the books till all taxes and fines are paid...

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"People don't like being ripped off so they stop going , not the owners fault its all the greedy bastard suppliers

Bollocks

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Quite a few are being turned into local supermarkets too.

The latest one near me is going to be a Sainsburys and yet there's a co-op, an asda, a nisa and a big Sainsburys all in easy walking distance.

Wont be long before those big stores have bars in them as they sell almost everything else these days

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The whole pub culture is changing as more people prefer bars with a dj. London pubs seem to be doing ok but in my area in Greater London I can think of 7 pubs that have closed down. Some have been turned into flats or supermarkets. The few that are left serve food and have decent outside areas, doesn't help in winter for the smokers. When I was younger pub drinkers were predominantly male with the wife at home with the children

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

A bar with a dj is the last thing I'd look for in a pub.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"A bar with a dj is the last thing I'd look for in a pub."

spoken by a real man

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"just gone on my facebook to see pics being put up of yet another local pub being demolished .

Peoples habits have changed and the small local is no longer popular or cost effective. Its a shame but no point in keeping them open if money isn't being made.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

".......

Peoples habits have changed and the small local is no longer popular or cost effective. Its a shame but no point in keeping them open if money isn't being made."

That may be the case in Liverpool but small community type locals are still popular in Glasgow.

Yes, there's plenty of vertical drinking establishments to choose from in the city centre but the small pub where you can hear what the person next to you is saying is still very popular.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I love my local. I happily pay a bit extra for my pint. Its more than just a pub. Its where i meet my mates etc

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

"I love my local. I happily pay a bit extra for my pint. Its more than just a pub. Its where i meet my mates etc"

I agree. I gladly pay a few coppers, for that's all it is, extra per drink for a pub where you can hear yourself think, can sit with a book or the paper, welcomes kids and dogs, has no telly or puggy and (a bit controversial this) ladies can come in by themselves and feel comfortable.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *odareyouMan
over a year ago

not far from iceland,,,,,, tescos is nearer though :-) (near leeds)

Many factors have affected pubs sometimes its a combined effect sometimes its not,

The decline started mid 70's, The industries that worked a 3 shift pattern where the working man had a drink before during and after his shift have largely gone, tthose that remain no one ventures out at lunch for a Beer these days, I used to travel to work by bus now I drive so do many others so drink driving plays its part,

Social media has an effect, you used to meet your mates at the Pub nowadays you can face ache them, our society looks for different forms of entertainment , price desparity between pubs and take home trade, smoking ban stc,

Typical price of a pint of beer £3 ish

Take Out of that 20% vat 60p

Take out of that the price of the Beer about £1.30 made up of alcohol duty (tax) etc the landlord is left with about a £1 ish per pint to run his business pay wages etc, for the hundred hour weeks they work I d not do it for the money,!! I m not surprised they close their doors,

The good landlords and landladys deserve some recognition in my book,

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *otlovefun42Couple
over a year ago

Costa Blanca Spain...

"...........

Can't bloody afford to, thanks to our robbing government, the banks and greedy large companies not paying tax.

Maybe if the UK lowered it's taxes then those company's would pay them in the UK instead of Luxembourg.

Just a thought.

Just what the UK needs, a race to the bottom. A race we can't possibly win."

And we are winning the race to the top?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

"...........

Can't bloody afford to, thanks to our robbing government, the banks and greedy large companies not paying tax.

Maybe if the UK lowered it's taxes then those company's would pay them in the UK instead of Luxembourg.

Just a thought.

Just what the UK needs, a race to the bottom. A race we can't possibly win.

And we are winning the race to the top?

The fact that Osborne has taken time out from wallpapering* over the cracks to propose an inflation busting increase in the National Minimum Wages suggests even he accepts the race of the bottom of the last few years isn't working.

*d'ye see what I did there?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Many factors have affected pubs sometimes its a combined effect sometimes its not,

Typical price of a pint of beer £3 ish

Take Out of that 20% vat 60p

The good landlords and landladys deserve some recognition in my book, "

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

Post new Message to Thread