Sour Mash Posted 12 March, 2012 Share Posted 12 March, 2012 Lots of reasons why pubs are suffering; High amount of tax we pay on a pint doesn't help. Number of other forms of entertainment people have nowadays at home - sky tv, internet, xbox etc, plenty of other things than going to the pub; Chain pubs dominance; Lots of lazy landlords and pub managemnt - I don't have that much sympathy for a lot that show no enterprise or creativity and do nothing put pull copious amounts of Fosters - if they can't compete on price, then try and compete on other things, entertainment, rare beers, sports teams, etc. I don't know what it is about Southampton, but it's one of the worst cities of its size for good, proper pubs, particularly in town and I don't know anywhere else that has such a problem with pubs closing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 12 March, 2012 Share Posted 12 March, 2012 The state of the pub industry is a national tragedy. Go abroad and foreigners will immediately switch the word "bar" for "pub" in your presence. Why? It's because we're famous for it. It is truly gutting to have witnessed the collapse of so many local pubs, either repurposed or outright demolished. Some will argue that the smoking ban is a just a factor in a wide range of causes, but it does happen to be massively coincidental that so many pubs have closed since the law's introduction. People forget how valuable local pubs are in gelling a community. About half the people I know in Liverpool are people I've met in local pubs. We've lost innumerable social hubs where people could just turn up for a quiet drink and a chat. There is literally nowhere to have a drink for people on my side of the estate - and part of our community is gone. I was saddened to see the Gate on Burgess Road flattened the last time I went to Southampton, and not entirely surprised when I met half of Bassett drinking in the Mitre, Portswood. The night-time economy is moribund. Taxi drivers have had poor business for years - I'm constantly meeting people who've waited hours for a fare. Contrast that to the good old days when you'd have fleets of vehicles ferrying slightly merry people from the local joints to the clubs in town. I still go out occasionally, but it's always to town and as a consequence, always feels like something of an event. Seems like there's no such thing as a nice quiet drink anymore. Like I said, a national tragedy. I don't think we'll ever get them back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 12 March, 2012 Share Posted 12 March, 2012 Like I said, a national tragedy. I don't think we'll ever get them back. That's what they said about The Stone Roses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 12 March, 2012 Share Posted 12 March, 2012 The Elephant and Castle did not close down in the early 90's, it did not close down in the 90's at all. I used to live just off the burseldon road in Sholing and went there with my family including my daughter who was born in 2001. I think it was 2002/03 we went there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 12 March, 2012 Share Posted 12 March, 2012 The Target butts road/burseldon road also closed down and has now been knocked down and houses built. Was knocked down in 2005. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 12 March, 2012 Share Posted 12 March, 2012 http://www.thisishampshire.net/archive/2003/05/03/Hampshire+Archive/5593397.Don_t_call_time_on_our_local_/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 12 March, 2012 Share Posted 12 March, 2012 I do not subscribe to that. Pubs are not owned by the local authority they are private business's and it should have been up to the people who run the premises as to whether they implemented a smoking ban. I like the smoking ban even as a smoker but it was a law that hit the trade very hard. As ever it was a law made by people who do not go into pubs. Hey Sergei, I had a swift pint in your place last week, on my way back from a job in winchester!! Didnt see the ghost though, the lazy bastard must have been asleep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aintforever Posted 12 March, 2012 Share Posted 12 March, 2012 On top of the price of beer and smoking ban I think another major factor is the internet, particularly Call Of Duty. You can stay in the comfort of you own home, drink beer at less than half the price, smoke, chat with your mates AND shoot people in the face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 12 March, 2012 Share Posted 12 March, 2012 The state of the pub industry is a national tragedy. Go abroad and foreigners will immediately switch the word "bar" for "pub" in your presence. Why? It's because we're famous for it. It is truly gutting to have witnessed the collapse of so many local pubs, either repurposed or outright demolished. Some will argue that the smoking ban is a just a factor in a wide range of causes, but it does happen to be massively coincidental that so many pubs have closed since the law's introduction. People forget how valuable local pubs are in gelling a community. About half the people I know in Liverpool are people I've met in local pubs. We've lost innumerable social hubs where people could just turn up for a quiet drink and a chat. There is literally nowhere to have a drink for people on my side of the estate - and part of our community is gone. I was saddened to see the Gate on Burgess Road flattened the last time I went to Southampton, and not entirely surprised when I met half of Bassett drinking in the Mitre, Portswood. The night-time economy is moribund. Taxi drivers have had poor business for years - I'm constantly meeting people who've waited hours for a fare. Contrast that to the good old days when you'd have fleets of vehicles ferrying slightly merry people from the local joints to the clubs in town. I still go out occasionally, but it's always to town and as a consequence, always feels like something of an event. Seems like there's no such thing as a nice quiet drink anymore. Like I said, a national tragedy. I don't think we'll ever get them back. Absolutely spot on to be fair. What can any of us do to keep them going? Not that much apart from the obvious - use them as much as you can, even if it's just grabbing a midweek pint every other week, it all helps. Like you say, once they're gone, they're gone and will be lost for good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffo Posted 12 March, 2012 Share Posted 12 March, 2012 I much prefer a few quiet pints in my local than a 'big' night out clubbing and getting in at 4 in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 12 March, 2012 Share Posted 12 March, 2012 The state of the pub industry is a national tragedy. Go abroad and foreigners will immediately switch the word "bar" for "pub" in your presence. Why? It's because we're famous for it. It is truly gutting to have witnessed the collapse of so many local pubs, either repurposed or outright demolished. Some will argue that the smoking ban is a just a factor in a wide range of causes, but it does happen to be massively coincidental that so many pubs have closed since the law's introduction. People forget how valuable local pubs are in gelling a community. About half the people I know in Liverpool are people I've met in local pubs. We've lost innumerable social hubs where people could just turn up for a quiet drink and a chat. There is literally nowhere to have a drink for people on my side of the estate - and part of our community is gone. I was saddened to see the Gate on Burgess Road flattened the last time I went to Southampton, and not entirely surprised when I met half of Bassett drinking in the Mitre, Portswood. The night-time economy is moribund. Taxi drivers have had poor business for years - I'm constantly meeting people who've waited hours for a fare. Contrast that to the good old days when you'd have fleets of vehicles ferrying slightly merry people from the local joints to the clubs in town. I still go out occasionally, but it's always to town and as a consequence, always feels like something of an event. Seems like there's no such thing as a nice quiet drink anymore. Like I said, a national tragedy. I don't think we'll ever get them back. I do think there are pubs where you can go for a quiet drink, but maybe not in City's anymore, but these pubs are still around in towns and villages and they are still used in the same way. They are a vital hub in the community, and Royston, meldreth, Ashwell, barkway, barley and melbourn all in my area have them. Only Shepreth are the village that are fighting to get their community pub back, as it was changed into a pizza restaurant which then went out of business. I think they are very important in these villages, but not the City's anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latter day saint Posted 12 March, 2012 Share Posted 12 March, 2012 i have 3 local pubs within 5 minutes walk & i've not been in any of them for at least 2 years. its not that i don't want to its just that everytime i suggest it to mates its "im skint" or "i've got beers in at home" or " i'm playing fifa/cod etc tonight" .no way i'm going billy no mates so the only time i get to go in a pub now is before /after a match Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Balls Posted 13 March, 2012 Share Posted 13 March, 2012 I've only read half of this thread so sorry if I repeat whats been said. In my line of work I am in pubs, bars and clubs all day talking to the owners. They pretty much all agree that the main reason pubs are closing and why it's all getting harder is down to the supermarkets. They sell so cheaply that the average 18-29 year olds don't see the benefit of going out or going down the pub. They (in general) either stay in drinking, or pre drink until 11pm. By pre drinking so much they skip the pubs and go straight to the late night venues. And becuase they have been pre drinking, they don't spend as much. It's not a popular opinion but I think they need to bring in minimum pricing per unit into the supermarkets. This will wipe out all the silly deals they do as well as the cheap crap. A can of cider for 20p? Bottle of Vodka for £4.50? They need to be a thing of the past. The only problem I see with that is the minimum price will go up & up & up a lot like petrol. It needs to be controled and encourage people to go out, as well as be responsible. Other factors killing the pub trade are TV - Things like X Factor keeping 20,000,000 people infront of the tv every Saturday and Sunday night. As well as the availibilty of sport Smoking ban Tax/Price - Linked to supermarkets really In some ways, it's good. It means the landlords have to make an effort. Do something to make people come in. Up the standard a bit. But it will all die soon and leave behind the big chains with the buying power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 15 March, 2012 Share Posted 15 March, 2012 Oh FFS http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=24305 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 15 March, 2012 Share Posted 15 March, 2012 Oh FFS http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=24305 Wonderful! We like Gibraltar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 15 March, 2012 Share Posted 15 March, 2012 Wonderful! We like Gibraltar. Here you go, you will not find cheaper hotel rates anywhere else. http://www.mygibraltar.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 15 March, 2012 Share Posted 15 March, 2012 Here you go, you will not find cheaper hotel rates anywhere else. http://www.mygibraltar.co.uk/ Thanks, but we only drop in there when we're on a cruise, doncha know! It looks like a good read, something for me to do this evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 15 March, 2012 Share Posted 15 March, 2012 Pubs are one of man's greatest inventions. It's bloody hard work and there are some **** poor landlords out there, however there are some really good ones. The landlord (or his Mrs in most of the good pubs I've been in) really makes a great pub. That said the brewerys, local and national Govt's and large chains are slowly killing decent pubs. The brewerys are ripping of tenants, putting rent up and selling beer at high prices to them. My son's wife's family own a pub and her Dad told me this story, that sums up brewerys. His local golf club wanted some real ale to sell, so he said that he would put them in touch with his brewery. He got the brewery involved and they put the ale in the club. Lo and behold, they charged the golf club less than they were charging him, a tenent of some 15 years. So he got them the in at the club and the brewery under cut his prices. Instaed of putting up prices in supermarkets, we should be reducing the tax on drinks in pubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redondo Saint Posted 16 March, 2012 Share Posted 16 March, 2012 What worries me is how many of those pubs i had been in =' date=' counted 36[/quote'] Same here! What happened to the Winning Post? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 17 March, 2012 Share Posted 17 March, 2012 I take it all the below are still open. Places I used to drink in my teens. The Dorchester Bevois Castle The Hobbit Gobblets The Highfield Alexandra The Crown - Highfield The Cowherds The Onslow I know the Gate has gone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 17 March, 2012 Share Posted 17 March, 2012 Interesting video just out on The Guardian site: the landlord in question seems to be running a great pub but... see what you think: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2012/mar/16/pub-closures-pubcos-landlords-punch-video?commentpage=last#end-of-comments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldsaint Posted 17 March, 2012 Share Posted 17 March, 2012 I take it all the below are still open. Places I used to drink in my teens. The Dorchester Bevois Castle The Hobbit Gobblets The Highfield Alexandra The Crown - Highfield The Cowherds The Onslow I know the Gate has gone! The Bevois Castle has re-opened as The Rockstone, good beer and food on offer, well worth a visit. I used to play darts for the Highfield (just after the last ice age I think). The Crown has changed beyond all recognition since my Highfield days (probably for the better TBF). The Hobbit was better known as the Portswood Inn when I lived round that way (nearly had to revert back to that name lately), not actually in Portswood though. Haven't been to the Cowherds or the Onslow in yonks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted 17 March, 2012 Share Posted 17 March, 2012 Hasn't the Onslow been closed,and reopened in some other format or name ? I have driven past the Cowherds that appears to be thriving, or at the very least still trading. Driving down The inner Avenue last week pre Barnsley, and glanced down Middle St and though I noticed Bevois Town Hotel to be closed. Since confirmed by the website at start of thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fowllyd Posted 17 March, 2012 Share Posted 17 March, 2012 Hasn't the Onslow been closed,and reopened in some other format or name ? It certainly doesn't look like a pub any more; it's called Lennons, and has the look of a late-night venue from the outside - windows painted up and all that. I'll always remember spending Saturday evenings in there back in the 1970s, with Bob Pearce and his blues band doing their stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latter day saint Posted 17 March, 2012 Share Posted 17 March, 2012 Same here! What happened to the Winning Post? its a One Stop store now with some flats above i think ? had a few drinks in there as a nipper,usually followed by the Peartree & then ,if feeling brave,the Drummond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 17 March, 2012 Share Posted 17 March, 2012 I take it all the below are still open. Places I used to drink in my teens. The Dorchester Bevois Castle The Hobbit Gobblets The Highfield Alexandra The Crown - Highfield The Cowherds The Onslow I know the Gate has gone! Heard today that The Dorchester is closing next month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 17 March, 2012 Share Posted 17 March, 2012 Haven't been to the Cowherds in yonks. I think my old man used to refer to it as the speedway hotel, can any oldies remember it being called that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 I was never a big fan of the Cowherds. It was one of the pioneers of a pub expanding its business into snacks and lunch, etc - something I always have a problem with. I like things to do one function and do it well, not take the hump when a drunk person spews on someone's steak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ribbo Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 I cant see the Frog + Frigate in the original list.. does that mean it's open!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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