Can Britain still be Britain without its pubs? (houses, theater)

[senoritacharlene]

Taken from http://www.newsweek.com/id/163450?GT1=43002.

With an average of five pubs going out of business everyday, Britain may soon be without one of its most treasured and frequented places - the village local. If Britain was to become pub-less, would it be the same? Would Britain's culture and social life be the same, improve, or lose a part of it's uniqueness. I think this will be a good discussion. Cheers

[PA2UK]

Nooooo! Britain would never be the same without it's pubs. It would definitely lose a part of it's unique culture and history. I love the atmosphere of a good pub and I love pub food.

[senoritacharlene]

Originally Posted by PA2UK

Nooooo! Britain would never be the same without it's pubs. It would definitely lose a part of it's unique culture and history. I love the atmosphere of a good pub and I love pub food.

I totally agree. Pubs are wonderful - especially the really old ones that have fires crackling in the winter and home made food. The kind of ones that have old men sitting on the same stools that they did 40 years previous

[Raggy dee Ann]

Kinda sad when a country is defined by it's pubs...but I guess we are reaping the rewards with the binge drinking culture we have come to be known for. The landscape of pubs have also changed, one word -Wetherspoons.

[albion]

Since the smoking ban was introduced, seven pubs In the center of my town have closed.
I'm a non-smoker and thought the ban on smoking would bring the non-smokers back. but It has'nt.
The ban has cost people their jobs, and pubs that have been open for centuries have now closed.
Another victory for the politicly correct.

[senoritacharlene]

Originally Posted by Raggy dee Ann

Kinda sad when a country is defined by it's pubs...but I guess we are reaping the rewards with the binge drinking culture we have come to be known for. The landscape of pubs have also changed, one word -Wetherspoons.

What we have to remember is that traditional pubs aren't about binge-drinking, and pubs (public houses) used to be places where travellers could stop for refreshment and sometimes spend the night. In most traditional pubs you will see many older locals who frequent the pub for company and will drink 1 pint or two over the whole evening. Binge drinking does occur in pubs too, but this is generally amongst the younger crowd who may not be able to get into city-center bars etc. Generally, if people want to binge-drink they will head to a bar (such as Wetherspoons) where they can get offers on doubles and shots. Traditional pubs (not that there are many left) generally serve more as a meeting point for conversation and a quiet night rather than a drunken night on the town, or at least they did last time I went to one...

[albion]

I live In a seaside town and my pub was THE place for music at the weekends. I know pubs like wetherspoons are taking over but you can understand It when some pubs were charging 3.40 for a pint of stella.

[Southside Shrek]

I loved the pubs in London and in rural Britain in general. Without them, I am afraid that the Brits would lose something they can never get back again....National Treasures.

May God save Britain's pubs!!!

[Hengist]

Living in a rural area, I'm more upset about the government closing post offices, which often leads to the disappearance of the village shop. Several pubs around here have survived by serving food, and keeping a small bar area.

Maybe it's just because I come from a family of drunks, but who wants to return to the days when the bloke gave his wife housekeeping and then went to the pub to spend his wages? Social patterns change. Most men now want to be at home with their families rather than getting pissed in some grubby local; I certainly do.

[What!]

Originally Posted by Raggy dee Ann

Kinda sad when a country is defined by it's pubs...but I guess we are reaping the rewards with the binge drinking culture we have come to be known for. The landscape of pubs have also changed, one word -Wetherspoons.

I know! I don't mean to come off like a self-righteous jerk but........is that all you people do?! I've met seven English girls--count 'em 7--online on Yahoo! games, normally playing pool. We get into conversations and whenever I asked their interests "going to the pub" came up either first or second. I always asked about the theaters, museums, art galleries, etc. and somehow many thought I was a loser because I preferred that over the pub.

And you're right, Raggy dee Ann, the images I see of Britain constantly revolve around the pubs. I try to overlook those images because the media image is a misrepresentation but pub-crawling keeps popping up in news articles, my conversations with Brits (both online and real life), and on this forum.

senoritacharlene says this is romantic in a traditional sense but traditions can and sometimes should die. You shouldn't do everything based on tradition. The typewriter is romantic in a traditional sense, but why use it?

Originally Posted by albion

Since the smoking ban was introduced, seven pubs In the center of my town have closed.
I'm a non-smoker and thought the ban on smoking would bring the non-smokers back. but It has'nt.
The ban has cost people their jobs, and pubs that have been open for centuries have now closed.
Another victory for the politicly correct.

Some English folks who were against the ban were saying it was going to be bad for the U.S. when we started putting it into effect. But over here we don't have a widespread collapsing of the restaurant business in the same way you people have. And, correct me if I'm wrong, neither does France or any other country that has a smoking ban. Doesn't that say something about the pub-culture and you folks are too hung up on the bottle?