Unpopular opinions.

[vikingTON]

I don't think that's an unpopular opinion. After an initial rush, long term attitudes will have changed towards the idea of sitting and buying relatively expensive drink - particularly if the social distancing/mask nonsense isn't punted in the bin very soon afterwards. Hopefully the main victims of that will be the mediocre chain pub shiteholes, as there will still be strong pulls to go to bin pubs/good quality pubs on either extreme.

I'm concerned about how many lower end pubs simply won't reopen though, particularly with the outside drinking only/inside meals pish being opened up first. Greater Greenock is down to about 20 pubs and I wouldn't be surprised if 4/5 don't see out this year even with a successful reopening of society. 

[throbber]

Pubs have been diminishing in popularity for the last 10+ years now anyway, if you are concerned about certain ones closing then you can do all you can to give them your business but If the interest just isn’t there from enough people anymore then it’s not really anyone’s fault and nothing to be concerned about.

Yesterday would have been a prime example of whether or not we missed the pubs as every other back garden was having a get together/barbecue and whilst I can’t speak for everyone I certainly didn’t miss the option of being able to go to a pub. 

[philpy]

Well-fired rolls are horrible.

[Melanius Mullarkey]

30 minutes ago, philpy said:

Well-fired rolls are horrible.

Too well fired and crispy like a Grimbo goldfish:  as welcome as a customer in a timber yard at 4.45.

Just the right side of caramelised and chewy: like finding a load of widden pallets by the roadside that would make a nice garden bench.

 

[velo army]

2 hours ago, Melanius Mullarkey said:

Too well fired and crispy like a Grimbo goldfish:  as welcome as a customer in a timber yard at 4.45.

Just the right side of caramelised and chewy: like finding a load of widden pallets by the roadside that would make a nice garden bench.

 

As one who recently bought a pallet splitter (most important tool since Guttenberg's printing press imo) this is a sumptuously relatable analogy.

 

[thomas]

On 03/04/2021 at 00:14, tamthebam said:

Caramel eggs are better than Creme Eggs.

I used to like Creme eggs as a kid but they're shite now compared to what they used to be. Caramel eggs however are the berries.

Correct opinions thread for this. 

[philpy]

10 hours ago, Melanius Mullarkey said:

Too well fired and crispy like a Grimbo goldfish:  as welcome as a customer in a timber yard at 4.45.

Just the right side of caramelised and chewy: like finding a load of widden pallets by the roadside that would make a nice garden bench.

 

Like an armadillo?? Hard on the outside, crunchy in the middle!!

[ICTChris]

11 hours ago, throbber said:

Pubs have been diminishing in popularity for the last 10+ years now anyway, if you are concerned about certain ones closing then you can do all you can to give them your business but If the interest just isn’t there from enough people anymore then it’s not really anyone’s fault and nothing to be concerned about.

Yesterday would have been a prime example of whether or not we missed the pubs as every other back garden was having a get together/barbecue and whilst I can’t speak for everyone I certainly didn’t miss the option of being able to go to a pub. 

Pubs have been dying for a lot longer than 10 years. The smoking ban was the death knell for loads of pubs and also pushed lots of business to larger places with beer gardens that can accommodate outside drinking all year round.

Also, though, British people have more varied interests socially than they did several decades ago. More people are interested in food and going out to eat, coffee is far more popular. People just have more options to socialise than they used to. I have relatives who are in their teens and early twenties and, while they do still go out to the pub, they certainly have more varied interest than I did at that age.

[Stellaboz]

Pubs can be great but if that's the only place you want to go socialize, you're leading a boring life. I realized a few years ago I spent way too much money there and placed fat too much emphasis around it.

Much prefer staying at a mates place or home and enjoying a chilled atmosphere or how we want it, without arse holes ruining it or spending a pointless small fortune.

[Binos]

5 minutes ago, Stellaboz said:

Pubs can be great but if that's the only place you want to go socialize, you're leading a boring life. I realized a few years ago I spent way too much money there and placed fat too much emphasis around it.

Much prefer staying at a mates place or home and enjoying a chilled atmosphere or how we want it, without arse holes ruining it or spending a pointless small fortune.

That's called getting old

[19QOS19]

Pubs can be great but if that's the only place you want to go socialize, you're leading a boring life. I realized a few years ago I spent way too much money there and placed fat too much emphasis around it.

Much prefer staying at a mates place or home and enjoying a chilled atmosphere or how we want it, without arse holes ruining it or spending a pointless small fortune.

Once I can forgive. But twice?! Having a word with yourself Stellabos!

[Melanius Mullarkey]

Pubcos fucked pubs before the smoking ban.

[Stellaboz]

Once I can forgive. But twice?! Having a word with yourself Stellabos!

Sorry.

[19QOS19]

Sorry.

Aw shucks, I can't stay mad at that face!

[NotThePars]

I couldn't afford to go to pubs with any regularity until I was like 24. 

[throbber]

12 hours ago, ICTChris said:

Pubs have been dying for a lot longer than 10 years. The smoking ban was the death knell for loads of pubs and also pushed lots of business to larger places with beer gardens that can accommodate outside drinking all year round.

Also, though, British people have more varied interests socially than they did several decades ago. More people are interested in food and going out to eat, coffee is far more popular. People just have more options to socialise than they used to. I have relatives who are in their teens and early twenties and, while they do still go out to the pub, they certainly have more varied interest than I did at that age.

I don’t think the smoking ban made much difference over all and like you say it’s more about choice nowadays. It’s also quite a lot to do with money as the price of alcohol has risen out of line with wage rises and if you want to spend a good few hours in the pub you are looking at £50 + easily which is a lot if you do it every weekend. There’s also a lot of absolute wankers who hang about pubs looking for people to latch on to and they can be truly depressing and unpleasant places to be sucked in to which I think a lot of people are keen to ignore.

[Melanius Mullarkey]

11 minutes ago, throbber said:

. There’s also a lot of absolute wankers who hang about pubs looking for people to latch on to and they can be truly depressing and unpleasant places to be sucked in

Each to their own.

[throbber]

13 hours ago, Binos said:

That's called getting old

It’s not really about age though is it? Some people continue going to the pub throughout their adult lives, some knock it on the head when they get married/have kids and some go through spells of staying in and going out depending on how sociable they’re feeling. You don’t just get to a certain age and decide the pub isn’t for you anymore. 

[Pocketman]

13 hours ago, Stellaboz said:

Pubs can be great but if that's the only place you want to go socialize, you're leading a boring life. I realized a few years ago I spent way too much money there and placed fat too much emphasis around it.

Much prefer staying at a mates place or home and enjoying a chilled atmosphere or how we want it, without arse holes ruining it or spending a pointless small fortune.

if you only go to pubs to socialise, you are boring! Go to someone else's hoose or stay at home where you have the telly and toaster. Hold tight.....

[ICTChris]

59 minutes ago, throbber said:

I don’t think the smoking ban made much difference over all and like you say it’s more about choice nowadays. It’s also quite a lot to do with money as the price of alcohol has risen out of line with wage rises and if you want to spend a good few hours in the pub you are looking at £50 + easily which is a lot if you do it every weekend. There’s also a lot of absolute wankers who hang about pubs looking for people to latch on to and they can be truly depressing and unpleasant places to be sucked in to which I think a lot of people are keen to ignore.

I worked for a large brewery and pubco around the time of the smoking ban and I can absolutely assure you that the smoking ban has had a major part in how the pub trade has developed. Pubs with certain features (covered outdoor seating in an enclosed area) have flourished and received investment whereas those without those or with specific negative features (one door in and out that people have to smoke outside, pubs that relied on ‘old man’ or daytime trade) have died a death. I don’t have the figures to hand but literally thousands of pubs shut in the years following the smoking ban.
 

You are absolutely right about pricing, that has a huge pull away from pubs to home drinking. Also that pubs are often full of complete p***ks is a factor but I’m sure that’s been true since the very first pub.