These days you are as likely to find a French bistro menu, as a Thai menu. The choice of ethnicity in today's pubs is endless.
The one thing you're probably least likely to find is an old fashioned pub where people gather around the bar with a pint and bag of scratchings. Pubs are now more likely to be restaurants than boozers.
For me, 'a pub' should be synonymous with 'a local', where you go in the evening for a pint, a chat, and conviviality. I don't want my local to become simply a convenient restaurant for passing motorists.
Sadly the old fashioned local pub is fast disappearing, as landlords desperately need the sale of food to survive. Sell food or fold. Things change, and I suppose we have to accept it.
In a post-Covid world, where 10,000 pubs are predicted never to re-open, the traditional non-food-serving pubs (now known as 'wet pubs') will probably be the first to go.
What a shame.
Ooop t'North the traditional pub is apparently thriving in the rural & semi-rural areas... where it is most needed, in many ways.... part of an inherent ability to withstand what life chucks at you.
ReplyDeleteIn my best mate's village, for example, the pub has for the moment become "an everything".... there are a lot of old folk, and some youngsters.... but no shop.
The vicar and his wife run the pub... but have rapidly expanded the "essentials" business into a community shop and parcel/on-line food delivery point and off licence... they were a pub-grub pub and are doing pre-ordered takeaway cold food... all based around.....
ploughman's lunches.
Yes, some pubs will die, sadly... but, in some places they were on life support anyway.... I have been to too many pubs that felt it necessary to stay open all day when their clientelle were early evening.... too many pubs where for most of the day the staff outnumber the customers... let them go!
As HRH Chazzer said... "The Pub is THE Hub!"
It SHOULD be the hub. It's often the Meeting House, where everyone is on mutual ground. Out in the country, it's often the only place where certain people get to meet others. Farmers and small one-man artisans would be lost without their 'local'. Let's hope they'll all bounce back somehow.
DeleteCro, I think the real local will... but the cities will lose all but the most popular... theme pubs are the most likely to have to change or die... and the least popular pubs in towns with too many pubs.
DeleteNot a bad thing imo!
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DeleteYes, great shame Cro. I remember sitting around the bar in the old days, chatting away to the locals and the landlord, getting all the local gossip, maybe having a game of shove-halfpenny later on, or play darts. Whatever happened to those? I guess darts would be deemed offensive weapons these days!
ReplyDeleteThat's how I think of a 'local'. You knew everyone, and everyone knew you. It's a good feeling going into your local, and the landlord/lady calls you by your name.
DeleteHave I been to England twice or thrice? I can't remember now but I think the latter. The pubs have always been great for not flash but very nice food and long may they continue. But even during my visits, some seemed to not be economically sustainable unless they were paying third world wages to the chef.
ReplyDeleteCouncil rates (taxes) are huge in Britain for businesses, then add the cost of electricity, gas, wages, your own salary, rent, etc; it's amazing how anyone makes any money these days. Of course a lot don't, which is why the UK High Streets are filled with empty shops.
DeleteYour favourite subject. English pubs. I just cannot say any more on the subject except Covid lockdowns have just made everything we all said before more acute.
ReplyDeleteMore than anything, I see pubs as top of the list of essential elements of English life; along with Marks & Spencer's, the NHS, The Boat Race, Big Ben, and a few others. All should be guarded at all cost.
DeleteThe 'Shepherd and dog' is still there nestling in the valley. The kids used to love to look at the natural stream there.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
It's a real classic; nice little village too.
DeleteIt is indeed a crying shame. The traditional English pub was one of our national treasures and now many of our pubs are dissolving into history. By the way referring to your home county as Fulking Sussex is bad form old chap. Just not cricket.
ReplyDeleteI do come from Fu*king Sussex, via way of Surrey, so I shall ring its praises as I wish.
DeleteLove that pub name 'The Shepherdand Dag' it certainly brings back an image of good old fashioned pub grub rather than than the stuff they serve these days.
ReplyDeleteThe pub is situated in 'a fold in the Downs', where Sheep roam, and Shepherd's watch. It's the perfect name for a pub there.
DeleteI’m meeting gorgeous Dave tonight at my village pub
ReplyDeleteBefore it closes again tomorrow
The new landlords aren't having much luck. Maybe you could all attempt to drink them dry tonight. Good luck.
DeletePub food here was usually fresh cut roast beef sandwich with aI jus gravy. It was always delicious. As you said, those places had to change with the times. Now, because of COVID restrictions, many have and more will close. When this is over, I wonder how many will reopen.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a student I used to go to a pub that sold freshly roasted Beef sandwiches. They were amazing. Once in Miami airport I ordered a Steak sandwich, and that's exactly what I was given; a huge steak between two slices of bread. That was in 1981, and it cost $1.
DeleteWhen I lived in England back in the days of pubs we used to gather in the Ring o' Bells after our campanology practice sessions at the local parish church. Now the pub is a gastro-pub with no bar as such. There's a million reasons why people just don't gather in rural and semi-rural pubs any more from farmers working all the hours that exist to people drinking their glass of wine at home in front of the TV. Or, perhaps, because their best and most enthusiastic clients have left for rural France and coastal Spain.
ReplyDeleteYou only realise what you'd really miss about somewhere when you're no longer there. So, you're right; the most eager admirers of rural pubs are probably those who now live abroad. All the things I really miss (Pork pies, fish-n-chips, Asian shops, etc) are taken for granted back home.
DeleteThe pubs have been screwed by greedy landlods, greedy beer companies, greedy supermarkets selling cheap beer to undercut and, ultimately, the greedy public who want the cheap supermarket booze, and home food deliveries yet still expect the pubs to survive without their support. Use it or lose it.
ReplyDeleteThe brewers certainly could help, and there's no question that the government takes far too much tax on beer. The other major problem is business rates that are through the roof.
DeleteRight on the nose Jean, right on the nose! But there is one thing that you missed... rural pubs have been badly done by ever since the drink-drive laws were put in place, As you know, Jim & Sandra McN are heavily involved with trying to buy and reopen their village pub.
DeleteYou last ate in a pub 50 years ago! Sorry Cro don’t think you have any idea about pubs today....in the UK
ReplyDeleteI know a reasonable amount about Trump, but I've never visited The White House.
DeleteWhat on earth are 'scratchings'?
ReplyDeletePork Scratching are delicious little snacks that you buy in small bags in pubs, and elsewhere. They are bits of pork skin, salted, then deep fried until crispy. That may not sound too appetising, but they are delicious with a pint.
DeleteMy experiences in British pubs was always great. I enjoyed my meal and everyone was friendly. Most, as you say, knew each other, I was the newcomer and always felt welcome. One of my fondest memories was driving through the countryside and coming upon a "Pub" sign. There was inside and outside seating. The outside seating was rustic and delightful. The pub owner had goats and cows and they were roaming nearby while we ate a Pub lunch.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly how they should be. Friendly, not to expensive, and somewhere where you feel welcome.
DeleteLove a good English pub. So nice after a winters Sunday walk to head to a pub for a roast lunch. Its been 25 years for me since I was last in the UK.
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