| Going to the pub 22:06 - Sep 7 with 3189 views | GlasgowBlue |
How often to we actually go to the pub.
Up to 10 years ago I would say I went to the pub most nights for a couple of jars after work. Before I was married (25 years ago) it was every night from about 8pm until kicking out time.
When I worked for my old man at his Estate Agents office in the 1980's it also included every lunchtime.
Now it's a case of having a walk with the Mrs to our local on a Saturday or Sunday night if we aren't out for a a meal with friends.
Is pub culture dead in this country or am I just getting old? |  |
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| Going to the pub on 22:20 - Sep 7 with 2499 views | Bluefish |
I go a lot more since I opened one. The missus isn't impressed |  |
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| Going to the pub on 22:30 - Sep 7 with 2480 views | Gogs |
Well, it's not what it was, that's for sure. You're probably getting old too though  It's not dead though, several pubs in several places do really well, even the traditional 'wet-led' pubs. Not so much in Ipswich, though a few do fairly well, but places like Derby and Norwich still have a thriving pub scene (just don't get talking to the locals about football).
Any number of factors have led to the decline of the boozer though. Cheap supermarket booze, the anti-alcohol lobby, business rate hikes, pubco's charging extortionate rent, the rise of sky tv and other 'home entertainment'. Not to mention the massive kick in the balls Covid has given the pub scene, i fear we're only now starting to see the long term effect that'll have on pubs. Having said that, we've got Brewdog opening in Ipswich, as well as The Botanist (more a food place i know, but still a good beer/drink selection), and Hopsters have just opened a bar in Felixstowe.
What annoys me most is work colleagues, many not much younger than me in their mid-late thirties who when it comes to a works night out would rather do some forced-fun guff like laser quest or escape rooms than a simple night down the boozer witha few drinks and a good laugh. Pre-covid if i ever went down the pub at lunchtime for one i got a look off them like i'd just dropped out of a dog's árse as if i was doing something horrifying. These will invariably be the same people who behave appallingly on christmas works do's on what is probably their annual trip to a pub |  | | |
| Going to the pub on 22:48 - Sep 7 with 2434 views | bluelagos |
Is pub culture dead?
Dead, no. Dieing a slow death, yep. Death by a thousand cuts is the phrase I'd use.
Wind back 30 years ago and the reason I, and many others went to a local was to socialise. Beer has always been at a premium in the pub so why would anyone go there rather than drink in a cleaner and more comfy environment (your living room)?
Reason why was and is to socialise. The pub is a place for meeting people and talking. 30 years ago it was pretty much the dominant option for socialising.
Now, there are 101 ways to socialise without going to a pub. As well as more alternative destinations, we can also socialise sitting at home. Zoom a friend, play an online game or just chat on social media. All of that is possible at home, unlike 30 years ago.
Having said all Glassers, yeah, you are getting old too. :-) |  |
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| Going to the pub on 23:17 - Sep 7 with 2371 views | allezlesbleus |
Personally, I believe that the biggest threat to British life is the demise of the pubs, especially the "local".
I have travelled quite a bit in the world and spent roughly half of my adult life living abroad. When I return to Suffolk, apart from the demise of ITFC, the thing that saddens me most is the loss of numerous traditional pubs. Many countries have tried to replicate them, but none really succeed. For all it's faults an "Estate local" is such an important focal point. Out in the countryside, a decent village boozer is worth it's weight in gold.
So many tvvats are up in arms when pubs close and start petitions to try and save them. Just use the bloody places a couple of times a week and they will thrive. |  | | |
| Going to the pub on 10:26 - Sep 8 with 1977 views | Bluespeed225 |
The wife came up with a list of Ippo pubs she’s never been in, so since last Thursday we’ve been on it, bit dine and dash to cover the distance, but a very interesting trip. Thursday afternoon, Brewers, St Judes, maybe 5 people in each. Friday, lunch in Lavenham, then in evening, Kinfisher, Kitchener and Red Lion, all had punters in, but 10 max at 6.30, Kitchener had 2, but was setting up for karaoke. Wanted to stay longer as got into conversation with Gino Washington’s lad about old times in Town, but missus wanted to cross off Red Lion..
Saturday afternoon, Flying Horse, 4 in, Inkerman, 2 in garden, and an odd wake/wedding( hard to tell, poss traveller, a real odd looking bunch), 10 of them in bar. Last night, after carpet bowls( really!), The Station, surprisingly well maintained, 5 in.
Tonight, Shipwrights, now some sort off b&b, but with a bar, onto The Smock, possibly Belstead Arms to eat. This leaves The Waterlilly, who’s trip advisor reviews made the wife consider crossing it off the list😂 |  | | |
| Going to the pub on 10:41 - Sep 8 with 1931 views | Swansea_Blue |
Around here there's been a shift from drinking culture to eating culture. At least that seems to be the case in the locals in the villages surrounding the city. Our local is now a (very nice) gastro pub - and seemingly does alright out of it. It's full of middle-aged upwards couples/groups most nights. So I don't think it's an age thing; maybe just the older we get we seek out increasingly more sedate entertainment!
The City centre still fills up with the usual singes-dominated groups, of all ages, at weekends. So going out just to get pissed seems still in fashion. A surprisingly large number of older people in these groups. Back in Ippy in the day, anyone over 30 was considered an oldun. That'd be young in Swansea now.
As you say, it's the dropping in for a pint either on the way home or just for a bit of a natter with locals that seems to be disappearing. Those pubs that can't adapt to a slightly different model (normally involving food or sports) seem then to wither and eventually close. |  |
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| Going to the pub on 10:44 - Sep 8 with 1926 views | giant_stow |
I think the problem is money and youth. You can't go down the pub with 10 quid and have a night anymore and that rules out a lot of younger bods, who then find alternatives. Pubs are being sustained by the remaining oldies, who tend to have a bit more cash.
I must admit, despite being an oldie(ish), the pub is now a treat rather than an everyday thing. That may also be because of reduced alcohol tolerance though! |  |
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| Going to the pub on 10:52 - Sep 8 with 1898 views | MattinLondon |
| Going to the pub on 10:41 - Sep 8 by Swansea_Blue |
Around here there's been a shift from drinking culture to eating culture. At least that seems to be the case in the locals in the villages surrounding the city. Our local is now a (very nice) gastro pub - and seemingly does alright out of it. It's full of middle-aged upwards couples/groups most nights. So I don't think it's an age thing; maybe just the older we get we seek out increasingly more sedate entertainment!
The City centre still fills up with the usual singes-dominated groups, of all ages, at weekends. So going out just to get pissed seems still in fashion. A surprisingly large number of older people in these groups. Back in Ippy in the day, anyone over 30 was considered an oldun. That'd be young in Swansea now.
As you say, it's the dropping in for a pint either on the way home or just for a bit of a natter with locals that seems to be disappearing. Those pubs that can't adapt to a slightly different model (normally involving food or sports) seem then to wither and eventually close. |
I’ve noticed that a lot of the traditional boozers which once dominated now tend to look rundown and past their sell-by-date. And instead it’s the gastropubs as well as the family friendly ones that look welcoming and modern.
Another way of looking at it, is that perhaps in the past there were too many pubs? |  | | |
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| Going to the pub on 10:53 - Sep 8 with 1892 views | artsbossbeard |
| Going to the pub on 10:26 - Sep 8 by Bluespeed225 |
The wife came up with a list of Ippo pubs she’s never been in, so since last Thursday we’ve been on it, bit dine and dash to cover the distance, but a very interesting trip. Thursday afternoon, Brewers, St Judes, maybe 5 people in each. Friday, lunch in Lavenham, then in evening, Kinfisher, Kitchener and Red Lion, all had punters in, but 10 max at 6.30, Kitchener had 2, but was setting up for karaoke. Wanted to stay longer as got into conversation with Gino Washington’s lad about old times in Town, but missus wanted to cross off Red Lion..
Saturday afternoon, Flying Horse, 4 in, Inkerman, 2 in garden, and an odd wake/wedding( hard to tell, poss traveller, a real odd looking bunch), 10 of them in bar. Last night, after carpet bowls( really!), The Station, surprisingly well maintained, 5 in.
Tonight, Shipwrights, now some sort off b&b, but with a bar, onto The Smock, possibly Belstead Arms to eat. This leaves The Waterlilly, who’s trip advisor reviews made the wife consider crossing it off the list😂 |
Used to play footy with Gino @ Kitchener. Top bloke.
Although picking him up on a Sunday morning and having no idea if he'd be there/what state he'd be in was always an eye opener for ABB the Younger. |  |
| Please note: prior to hitting the post button, I've double checked for anything that could be construed as "Anti Semitic" and to the best of my knowledge it isn't. Anything deemed to be of a Xenophobic nature is therefore purely accidental or down to your own misconstruing. | | Poll: | Raining in IP8 - shall I get the washing in? |
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| Going to the pub on 11:13 - Sep 8 with 1828 views | BlueBlueBluex2 |
| Going to the pub on 10:53 - Sep 8 by artsbossbeard |
Used to play footy with Gino @ Kitchener. Top bloke.
Although picking him up on a Sunday morning and having no idea if he'd be there/what state he'd be in was always an eye opener for ABB the Younger. |
I am a regular pub goer, perhaps every other day, staying for 2 or 3 pints perhaps?
The demographic at the times I go (village pub, 5pm till no later than 6 midweek) are mostly 40+ , people who have slunk out of work early type folk.
Early in the week the two pubs in the village will have a dozen or so each night until it starts to ramp up on Thursday/Fri/Sat/Sun lunchtime when it will be full.
Pubs play a large part of the social scene for me and my peers of the same age. Whilst we do eat out once or twice a month too, it is always in a pub setting. What else can middle aged men do together? | | | |
| Going to the pub on 11:29 - Sep 8 with 1772 views | DebsyAngel |
Only been going twice a month since had to cut back on spending, this has been for the last 4 years.
I am only going to a quieter pub now since I have had the courage to start going out again. Really want to go to the busy town one but still feeling so scared as it's more crowded.
I don't really drink much now, but still enjoy the getting ready with great music on build up. Only problem is, the music will not be to my taste when I go anywhere! |  | | |
| Going to the pub on 11:31 - Sep 8 with 1765 views | Hipsterectomy |
Pub culture does seem to be dying, whether that is due to the pandemic and people being happy to stay at home or invite people over, or that young people are increasingly less likely to drink alcohol/go to pubs nowadays. |  |
| Walter Smith's Barmy Army |
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| Going to the pub on 12:27 - Sep 8 with 1632 views | brazil1982 |
Maybe once a month to catch up with friends, certainly used to go more when I lived in London. Where I live, not far from Rochdale, the pubs are in general hideous so a quick one isn't always attractive.
The last pub I visited, GB, was the Laurieston in Glasgow a few weeks back. | | | |
| Going to the pub on 12:31 - Sep 8 with 1619 views | chicoazul |
| Going to the pub on 22:30 - Sep 7 by Gogs |
Well, it's not what it was, that's for sure. You're probably getting old too though It's not dead though, several pubs in several places do really well, even the traditional 'wet-led' pubs. Not so much in Ipswich, though a few do fairly well, but places like Derby and Norwich still have a thriving pub scene (just don't get talking to the locals about football).
Any number of factors have led to the decline of the boozer though. Cheap supermarket booze, the anti-alcohol lobby, business rate hikes, pubco's charging extortionate rent, the rise of sky tv and other 'home entertainment'. Not to mention the massive kick in the balls Covid has given the pub scene, i fear we're only now starting to see the long term effect that'll have on pubs. Having said that, we've got Brewdog opening in Ipswich, as well as The Botanist (more a food place i know, but still a good beer/drink selection), and Hopsters have just opened a bar in Felixstowe.
What annoys me most is work colleagues, many not much younger than me in their mid-late thirties who when it comes to a works night out would rather do some forced-fun guff like laser quest or escape rooms than a simple night down the boozer witha few drinks and a good laugh. Pre-covid if i ever went down the pub at lunchtime for one i got a look off them like i'd just dropped out of a dog's árse as if i was doing something horrifying. These will invariably be the same people who behave appallingly on christmas works do's on what is probably their annual trip to a pub |
I absolutely agree. The infantilisation of young men in this country is a tragedy. |  |
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| Going to the pub on 12:40 - Sep 8 with 1591 views | ericclacton |
Pubs all smell of bloody chips now a daze, i liked it when they just sold snifter juice and the occasional pkt of salted peanuts.........DRUNK MAN.
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| Going to the pub on 12:47 - Sep 8 with 1570 views | MattinLondon |
| Going to the pub on 12:31 - Sep 8 by chicoazul |
I absolutely agree. The infantilisation of young men in this country is a tragedy. |
To be fair those young men probably have seen older blokes behaving like absolute tits in pubs and decided that it’s not for them.
Fundamentally tastes alter over the years. If the home entertainment we now have now, as well as other social events like Escape Rooms, has existed thirty or forty years ago, would as many pubs have survived this far? Probably not. | | | |
| Going to the pub on 13:05 - Sep 8 with 1521 views | mutters |
Maybe once or twice a year at most. Not my bag these days and I'd rather go out for a meal or have friends over for food etc. |  |
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| Going to the pub on 13:10 - Sep 8 with 1509 views | mutters |
| Going to the pub on 12:31 - Sep 8 by chicoazul |
I absolutely agree. The infantilisation of young men in this country is a tragedy. |
You could argue that going to the pub and just drinking all night is pretty damn immature. There is so much more to do than sit in a pub chatting to normally the same few people each week. People want more than that, life is short | |
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| Going to the pub on 15:39 - Sep 8 with 1375 views | chicoazul |
| Going to the pub on 12:47 - Sep 8 by MattinLondon |
To be fair those young men probably have seen older blokes behaving like absolute tits in pubs and decided that it’s not for them.
Fundamentally tastes alter over the years. If the home entertainment we now have now, as well as other social events like Escape Rooms, has existed thirty or forty years ago, would as many pubs have survived this far? Probably not. |
Anyone who would rather go to an Escape Room or Secret Cinema or host a murder mystery evening or paint ball or laser quest or whatever with their mates instead of the pub is a complete wet wipe. I don’t make the rules. | |
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| Going to the pub on 16:03 - Sep 8 with 1317 views | Gogs |
| Going to the pub on 13:10 - Sep 8 by mutters |
You could argue that going to the pub and just drinking all night is pretty damn immature. There is so much more to do than sit in a pub chatting to normally the same few people each week. People want more than that, life is short |
Only if the sole aim is getting plastered could you argue that it’s immature. It is not my aim when I go to the pub. A sociable evening with a few drinks and a few friends, enjoying each other’s company and putting the world to rights is without question a fine thing and long may it continue. | | | |
| Going to the pub on 16:17 - Sep 8 with 1292 views | Steve_M |
I've been pondering an answer to this and then getting distracted from work.
When I worked during the Summers in between uni years (late 90s) there was still a lunchtime drinking culture but that was fading a bit even a couple of years later by the time I was working in London. There was still a strong after work culture, Fridays especially but also often during the week as well, sometimes after playing football.
I think that's declined as it does seem that younger generations don't drink as much but, also, I'm more inclined to get away from work of an evening now - but that's an age thing.
I still go to a pub fairly often but noticeably more so during the football season. Some of that is availability of people to drink with but also more selectivity over where I drink. Good pubs around North London are preferable to busy places centrally.
So, yes, it's partly cultural but also age too. It has to be a good thing that pubs, and beer, are generally better than they used to be but it's different to 20 years ago let alone 40 or 60. Supermarket beer and multichannel tv account for some of that as well as less gender-defined roles in relationships.
I fancy a beer now mind.... |  |
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| Going to the pub on 16:42 - Sep 8 with 1218 views | mutters |
| Going to the pub on 11:13 - Sep 8 by BlueBlueBluex2 |
I am a regular pub goer, perhaps every other day, staying for 2 or 3 pints perhaps?
The demographic at the times I go (village pub, 5pm till no later than 6 midweek) are mostly 40+ , people who have slunk out of work early type folk.
Early in the week the two pubs in the village will have a dozen or so each night until it starts to ramp up on Thursday/Fri/Sat/Sun lunchtime when it will be full.
Pubs play a large part of the social scene for me and my peers of the same age. Whilst we do eat out once or twice a month too, it is always in a pub setting. What else can middle aged men do together? |
I'd simply say middle age men can do a lot if they want to, this isnt 1957!
The time of slowly descending into old age in a pub is long gone, and there is so much on offer in the world these days. Of course, each to their own and this is just my opinion. We are often driven by our social circles and bond over shared interests. If that is the pub then that's great but there is so much more out there if you put the pint down and go out and have a look. | |
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| Going to the pub on 16:50 - Sep 8 with 1202 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Going to the pub on 10:52 - Sep 8 by MattinLondon |
I’ve noticed that a lot of the traditional boozers which once dominated now tend to look rundown and past their sell-by-date. And instead it’s the gastropubs as well as the family friendly ones that look welcoming and modern.
Another way of looking at it, is that perhaps in the past there were too many pubs? |
Yeah, it seems to be the way around here. I suppose it's just a supply and demand issue. Shame ina way, as a good traditional low hassle pub (no queues of screaming kids waiting for food!) with good company is always a plus. | |
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| Going to the pub on 17:06 - Sep 8 with 1178 views | lowhouseblue |
| Going to the pub on 16:42 - Sep 8 by mutters |
I'd simply say middle age men can do a lot if they want to, this isnt 1957!
The time of slowly descending into old age in a pub is long gone, and there is so much on offer in the world these days. Of course, each to their own and this is just my opinion. We are often driven by our social circles and bond over shared interests. If that is the pub then that's great but there is so much more out there if you put the pint down and go out and have a look. |
you mean go out into the beer garden? not sure i fancy that. |  |
| And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show |
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| Going to the pub on 18:00 - Sep 8 with 1109 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Going to the pub on 17:06 - Sep 8 by lowhouseblue |
you mean go out into the beer garden? not sure i fancy that. |
Beer gardens were a summer thing only when I was a boy. In the winter time it was a case o sitting in the car with a bottle of pop and a bag of crisps whilst my mum and dad spent Sunday lunchtime in the pub. | |
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