King Alfred

[SuperMikey]

Closed until further notice

[Colinjb]

Oh no! Any idea why?

[aintforever]

I couldn't imagine why anyone would go there on a a non football day.

[Sour Mash]

More pubs have closed in the vicinity of the ground then opened since we've moved to St Marys, despite most being under the impression it'd be a boost to the local economy. Someone should be able to make a profit out of the King Alfred at least.

[old_southy]

May it re-open as something better

[rocknrollman no2]

It went downhill when those stupid barriers were put up outside.

[SuperMikey]

They get lots of business on match days but the staff there say they get basically nobody in for the rest of the week. Might be a better idea to only open it on matchdays and when they have live music on...

[Sour Mash]

They get lots of business on match days but the staff there say they get basically nobody in for the rest of the week. Might be a better idea to only open it on matchdays and when they have live music on...

That must apply to most pubs around football grounds up and down the country. Can't see how that pub isn't a viable business. Probably not helped with how few home games we've had this season.

[Turkish]

less home games, at stupid times, sunday lunch times, monday evenings etc, which has probably meant a lot less people going for a pint before and after, i dont think i have for a non saturday home game this season. It's not in a nice area and not a great pub, just handy for football, can see why it's dead during the week.

Edited 28 February, 2013 by Turkish

[Didcot Saint]

Blimey, been going there every game since SMS opened!

[saintwiz]

Dump

[melmacian_saint]

That must apply to most pubs around football grounds up and down the country. Can't see how that pub isn't a viable business. Probably not helped with how few home games we've had this season.

 

Pretty much. Less games and more specifically a lot of different timetables. I imagine that unless we're playing on the afternoons/evenings on Saturday/Sundays the crowd is not even significantly bigger. Even when we last were in the PL the timetable variation was nowhere near as big.

 

A big difference with other local pubs near football grounds is that they attract some of the local population as well as some of their city centre crowds. Afraid St.Mary's is not that kind of area where people will go unless they are watching the football. Too far from the city centre and the pub itself is quite isolated.

[RedAndWhite91]

Across the UK, pubs are closing at a rate of 18 per week. It's sad, a shame.

[trousers]

They should consider relocating to Portsmouth. Pompey brings in c.£300m per annum to the local economy there...

[adrian lord]

Pretty much. Less games and more specifically a lot of different timetables. I imagine that unless we're playing on the afternoons/evenings on Saturday/Sundays the crowd is not even significantly bigger. Even when we last were in the PL the timetable variation was nowhere near as big.

 

A big difference with other local pubs near football grounds is that they attract some of the local population as well as some of their city centre crowds. Afraid St.Mary's is not that kind of area where people will go unless they are watching the football. Too far from the city centre and the pub itself is quite isolated.

 

it would have closed several years back if it werent for St Mary's for all those reasons. Also the local demographic simply arent pub goers.

[adrian lord]

Pretty much. Less games and more specifically a lot of different timetables. I imagine that unless we're playing on the afternoons/evenings on Saturday/Sundays the crowd is not even significantly bigger. Even when we last were in the PL the timetable variation was nowhere near as big.

 

A big difference with other local pubs near football grounds is that they attract some of the local population as well as some of their city centre crowds. Afraid St.Mary's is not that kind of area where people will go unless they are watching the football. Too far from the city centre and the pub itself is quite isolated.

 

it would have closed several years back if it werent for St Mary's for all those reasons. Also the local demographic simply arent pub goers.

[DJ_TOAST]

They're closing because the other manager (not Calven the big guy with almost a afro) ran off with load of money/takings from the pub and has forced them to close.

Apart from matchdays, on Friday and Saturday nights most weeks they would have something going on (like Drum & Bass - dance music nights / bands) but apart from that and footie days not alot else so they were running without making any money anyway and just about getting by.

[Hedgehog]

Perhaps they should have a 'dodgy' sattelite set up and show Saints games live, especially the home games for those that can not get to the ground on match days

[paris]

An ex landlord explained to me recently the costs of running a pub these days , he basically said that to make a success it would have to be busy night and day pretty much seven days a week ....

[once_bitterne]

May it re-open as something better

 

A house?

[Tokyo-Saint]

It should have stayed as a gay bar, gay bars are busy 7 days a week, especially Sundays. When I lived in Clapham, the one there was packed on a Sunday (source bearsy 2013).

 

Also, anyone remember the topless bar maids upstairs in the Alfred? That was funny, it wasn't like they got in some fit staff to do it or anything. It just looked like they told the usual staff there was a new uniform and it just consisted in a pair of trousers.

[Saint_clark]

It should have stayed as a gay bar, gay bars are busy 7 days a week, especially Sundays. When I lived in Clapham, the one there was packed on a Sunday (source bearsy 2013).

 

Also, anyone remember the topless bar maids upstairs in the Alfred? That was funny, it wasn't like they got in some fit staff to do it or anything. It just looked like they told the usual staff there was a new uniform and it just consisted in a pair of trousers.

 

When was this? Do not remember that, whenever I go upstairs it's always some moody bloke.

[Bearsy]

you went on gay night

[Scummer]

When was this? Do not remember that, whenever I go upstairs it's always some moody bloke.

 

I went in there on 1st August 2007, and there were topless barmaids upstairs on that day.

[Tokyo-Saint]

It was around the time Burley was manager I guess. 2007 according to this forest forum http://www.footballforums.net/forums/showthread.php/187954-Soton-vs-Forest

 

They seemed to enjoy it. It was probably the worst titty bar I have ever been to and I have been to a fair few. It looked like a minor celeb was about to walk though the bar at any moment and say this was an appeal and for just £4 a month these minging b!tches would be able to afford tops to wear.

[Legod Third Coming]

Across the UK, pubs are closing at a rate of 18 per week. It's sad, a shame.

 

Tesco can sell you a pint for 89p whereas you pay £4 in a pub...

 

Not helped by a government (successive governments) who are hell bent on curing binge drinking by increasing the bloody price of booze...

 

What's needed is a government which understands:

 

a) alcahol education could be ASSISTED by encouraging responsible parents to take their kids to 'drinking' environments from a young age

b) local pubs used to be a home to the 'Big Society' - local people meeting and helping one another, sharing problems and halving them

c) pubs can create wealth - recycling money into the local economy rather than into faceless corporate monsters

d) most people are responsible when treated responsibly

e) happiness underpins a successful economy - it boosts confidence and well-being (reducing the health budget and welfare budget)

f) drinking at home is the scourge of society since this is when most depression and drink-related illness actually occurs (not in social environments - where the environment tempers behaviour).

 

So ultimately, we need a government which invests in pubs.

 

Simples.

[paris]

The Saints Web poitical party now there's a thought , would never be able to agree on anything mind ......

[surrey1saint]

Never been there.Sorry its yet another pub closing though

[RedAndWhite91]

Tesco can sell you a pint for 89p whereas you pay £4 in a pub...

 

Not helped by a government (successive governments) who are hell bent on curing binge drinking by increasing the bloody price of booze...

 

What's needed is a government which understands:

 

a) alcahol education could be ASSISTED by encouraging responsible parents to take their kids to 'drinking' environments from a young age

b) local pubs used to be a home to the 'Big Society' - local people meeting and helping one another, sharing problems and halving them

c) pubs can create wealth - recycling money into the local economy rather than into faceless corporate monsters

d) most people are responsible when treated responsibly

e) happiness underpins a successful economy - it boosts confidence and well-being (reducing the health budget and welfare budget)

f) drinking at home is the scourge of society since this is when most depression and drink-related illness actually occurs (not in social environments - where the environment tempers behaviour).

 

So ultimately, we need a government which invests in pubs.

 

Simples.

 

Spot on, 100% agree. Such a shame the government can't or won't see it like this.

[Horley CTFC Saint]

Oh no! Any idea why?

Burn't the cakes is my guess

[sandwichsaint]

Anybody up for taking some tins into the garden area? Just for old times sake like.

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

Tesco can sell you a pint for 89p whereas you pay £4 in a pub...

 

Not helped by a government (successive governments) who are hell bent on curing binge drinking by increasing the bloody price of booze...

 

What's needed is a government which understands:

 

a) alcahol education could be ASSISTED by encouraging responsible parents to take their kids to 'drinking' environments from a young age

b) local pubs used to be a home to the 'Big Society' - local people meeting and helping one another, sharing problems and halving them

c) pubs can create wealth - recycling money into the local economy rather than into faceless corporate monsters

d) most people are responsible when treated responsibly

e) happiness underpins a successful economy - it boosts confidence and well-being (reducing the health budget and welfare budget)

f) drinking at home is the scourge of society since this is when most depression and drink-related illness actually occurs (not in social environments - where the environment tempers behaviour).

 

So ultimately, we need a government which invests in pubs.

 

Simples.

 

Absolutely brilliantly put.

[Langleysaint]

Absolutely brilliantly put.

 

Spot on post !

[Barry the Badger]

Thought something must be up when after the Man City game the beers unavailable outnumbered those that were. It was basically Fosters, or a bottle of crabbies.