Can Britain still be Britain without its pubs? (house, neighborhoods)

[Hobokenkitchen]

Originally Posted by PA2UK

Even in the city you can find plenty of local pubs that aren't dodgy or just for getting drunk. But I agree, when you get farther out you're not likely to find big name chains and it's a more cultural experience. One of my favs, the Miners Arms:



For the record, we went for a sunday roast, not for drinking or getting drunk

God I miss this! Philadelphia is better than most US cities for finding something similar, but nothing beats a proper English pub for a Sunday roast. My mouth is watering!

I also grew up going to our local pub with my (tea total) Mother. It's a community thing.

I do think it makes a huge difference where you are. I grew up in the country and there is nothing cozier than a country pub with a fire and a good pub lunch.

I need to get home - it's been over a year and I am feeling a bit homesick reading this thread!

Someone who thinks Weatherspoons is a good example of an English pub simply doesn't understand the British pub culture and how important those pubs are to the (especially rural) communities.

[PA2UK]

Originally Posted by Hobokenkitchen

I do think it makes a huge difference where you are. I grew up in the country and there is nothing cozier than a country pub with a fire and a good pub lunch.

I don't think I've been to a pub with a fireplace yet! At least not a lit one in the winter time. I'll have to look into correcting that!

[senoritacharlene]

Originally Posted by PA2UK

I don't think I've been to a pub with a fireplace yet! At least not a lit one in the winter time. I'll have to look into correcting that!

What?? Never been to a pub with a fireplace? Shame on you! The best place for that is that Tower Bank Arms in the Lake District (or any pub in the Lake District come to that)

Tower Bank Arms the perfect place to eat, drink and sleep in Sawrey in the heart of the English Lake District

couldnt find a picture of the fireplace unfortunately!

[PA2UK]

I'll keep that in mind next time I'm in the Lake District. I'm trying to remember the ones I have been to in the Lake District - I think it's a lost cause, lol

[richt71]

Originally Posted by Hobokenkitchen

God I miss this! Philadelphia is better than most US cities for finding something similar, but nothing beats a proper English pub for a Sunday roast. My mouth is watering!

I also grew up going to our local pub with my (tea total) Mother. It's a community thing.

I do think it makes a huge difference where you are. I grew up in the country and there is nothing cozier than a country pub with a fire and a good pub lunch.

I need to get home - it's been over a year and I am feeling a bit homesick reading this thread!

Someone who thinks Weatherspoons is a good example of an English pub simply doesn't understand the British pub culture and how important those pubs are to the (especially rural) communities.

Totally agree on a community thing. I grew up in a large village of 1000 people. We had 2 small pubs in our village and people would go into 1 a few nights a week to catch up with others but particularly on a Sunday. My grandad lived at the other end of the village but could be found in the pub every Sunday for 2 pints of John Smith's proper beer. There was a group of about 20 elderly folks that would sit and talk while drinking. My nan prefered to cook the Sunday roast which my grandad would go home for at 1pm on the dot up a little hill.
Such a shame that these traditions are getting killed by closures or pubs getting turned into eating only places.

[FinnishAmerican]

Are you serious ?
I dont mind pubs myself () but if pubs will disappear...

ITS A VICTORY FOR MUSLIMS! NOOOO!

Someone, DO SOMETHING, you Brittish were too lazy. You should drink more!
Go get drunk now, I got a plan for you now.

Everyday, go drink 6 beers or something.
It'll get things back to the track.
AND, all you who are unemployeed, start your own pub.

[lastinshow]

I can't image imagine Britain without pubs.
Pubs in Britain serve the same function as coffee shops in warmer climes.

Pubs are about communities, face time, chatting to friends and making new ones. It's about a half pint at lunch time with your co-workers. It's about the old guy in the corner singing some folk song with no words - at least in the warm and with someone to keep an eye out.
Even pub crawls - jumping from place to place, always seeing someone you know. Without it college just wouldn't be the same.

OK, yes some are a bit grimy. OK yes people get drunk in them, although you can do that anywhere out on the street with a cheap bottle of sherry, or in your living room for that matter.

There is a reason people try to copy the British pub all over the world but never really succeed.

Now, the other issue would be - what the heck happened to Scottish beer? Got all light and gassy and chilled. No more pints of Tennants Export? Couldn't believe that when I saw it.

[Tartanlad]

Originally Posted by lastinshow

I can't image imagine Britain without pubs.

Now, the other issue would be - what the heck happened to Scottish beer? Got all light and gassy and chilled. No more pints of Tennants Export? Couldn't believe that when I saw it.

Tennents Export is still sold in cans, more so in the supermarkets than pubs though.

Tennents Lager or imported lager tend to be the norm in pubs now.

Regarding declining pubs, I don't blame the smoking ban. I never noticed any difference when it came in apart from the amount of people standing outside pubs smoking. However when peoples finances started to get tight in recent times, that's when the pubs started to struggle. Alot of people now will invite friends to their home for drinks as it is cheaper to buy the supermarket than the pub.

[richt71]

Originally Posted by Tartanlad

Tennents Export is still sold in cans, more so in the supermarkets than pubs though.

Tennents Lager or imported lager tend to be the norm in pubs now.

Regarding declining pubs, I don't blame the smoking ban. I never noticed any difference when it came in apart from the amount of people standing outside pubs smoking. However when peoples finances started to get tight in recent times, that's when the pubs started to struggle. Alot of people now will invite friends to their home for drinks as it is cheaper to buy the supermarket than the pub.

I agree. The problem is that supermarkets have been selling 4 pack beer cheaper and cheaper whereas the price of beer in pubs has been going the other way with breweries charging more to pubs, more tax from our government and pubs overheads going up! Even in my 'cheap' local a pint of medium strength beer is like £2.70 whereas a 4 pack in my local supermarket of the same beer is like £3.50! If I go to city centre pubs or more hip pubs then there's no difference between the cost of a pint and the 4 pack from a supermarket!

[rbryant]

The pub is one of many reasons I want to visit the UK..and mainly the smaller towns and villages as opposed to the big cities. Mention pub and I conjure up images of a small,intimate,and friendly place to drink,eat and socialize. Someone mentioned that pubs used to have sunday roasts, perhaps that tradition will eventually revive itself. I don't view pubs as a place to get drunk or find someone to hook up with..just a comfortable venue to meet people and relax. Much like the pub, the neighborhood bar here in the US serves the same purpose.