Wetherspoons

[RobertT]

Reg, your points are true, it's a shame the "local" pubs, by and large, haven't done anything about it.  Sure, overall there would be less in the same image as each other but there is certainly a market out there for booze, it's about finding a way to get people in your booze distribution site.  The Sheild and Dagger aalways looked quite busy on football days when I would visit with my Dad, he's now moved and the Clifton is his new establishment of choice.  It appealed directly to a specific group of people - cheap Sunday lunches for the OAP's and rough as sandpaper bar with TV's, meat raffles etc etc for the rough and ready rogues who attended (my Dad's pint would be served by the time he'd walked past a 2nd window)

[Tails]

My local is owned by a pub company so it makes no difference to me either way.

[STFC_Gazza]

Reg, Adding on from your point: antoher thing to blame is MOBILE PHONES, EMAIL ETC.

People used to meet at pubs to chat etc face to face, the drinking was more social. now all someone has to do is text or use facebook etc to have convos. Where as mobiles etc have changed lives for the better and easier business wise, They have killed other parts of social living. My Nan says the same thing "NO ONE TALKS FACE TO FACE ANYMORE" all you need to do is chat on facebook.

Even to an example this forum, no one says gets together now to plan away days, just do it all online meet up, go and thats it, admittedly those people may move on to the pub but you get my drift....

[STFC_Gazza]

if McDonalds, but instead they now flourish.

True but that is down to quality etc... Now one may argue where you go to Wetherspoons you normally dont get a lively pint than say if you go to the Dolphin you get a lively pint (in  more ways than one) but people still go to wetherspoons as its cheap. Same with food at Wetherspoons I hardly go there and get hot quality food. Dont think I've ever had a hot breakfast there where as a traditional pub like the black horse at Liddington, lively pint, good food and hot .

[Reg Smeeton]

Reg, Adding on from your point: antoher thing to blame is MOBILE PHONES, EMAIL ETC.

People used to meet at pubs to chat etc face to face, the drinking was more social. now all someone has to do is text or use facebook etc to have convos. Where as mobiles etc have changed lives for the better and easier business wise, They have killed other parts of social living. My Nan says the same thing "NO ONE TALKS FACE TO FACE ANYMORE" all you need to do is chat on facebook.

Even to an example this forum, no one says gets together now to plan away days, just do it all online meet up, go and thats it, admittedly those people may move on to the pub but you get my drift....

 Its a good point Gazza....I did think of including the mobile in my list of reasons.

[Simon Pieman]

Is that why Wetherspoons are often frequented by middle aged hags and old men as well? If people's criteria for a night in the pub is cheap booze then they'll find a cheap place to drink. It doesn't matter how old they are.

I wouldn't blame a generation of people, I'd blame the price of alcohol to start with. There are other activities that cost a lot less than going to the pub. A night out in town is as dead as I ever saw it. It is, quite frankly, pants. People old and young stay in and watch the same shit on telly or go round a mates which they can afford to do.

In light of this the pub industry had to do something - and decorating their pubs in generic fashion seemed the answer. Mainly because given the choice, people will choose a tidier pub over a shabby shithole if the prices were comparible. My local became one of these generic places a few years back. It's still a bit crappy, mainly because despite the update, the clientelle never changed.

The price of booze has gone up rediculous amounts over the years. I remember when I'd grumble about paying £3 for a pint because it was rediculously expensive. Now it seems the norm. I'll marvel at the price when a generic pint of beer comes to less than £2.80, proclaiming "that's not bad, is it?"

I'm sure some of you old boys will go on to tell me of the days of buying bitter with old money, but I'm sure the story will still be the same.

[RobertT]

Gazza, those pubs who can offer the alternatives will be the ones who do ok anyway.  It's the places that serve up rubbish at higher prices with no compelling reasons for those local to it that suffer.  Liden Arms always looks busier than the Crumpled Horn near me, and the Sun busier still.  Liden caters for those directly around it whereas the Crumpled went on a spree of simply annoying everyone who live near it for a bit, as well seemingly having Kareoke every night.

[Arriba]

crumpled is my local rob.i went in once after moving to the area and aint returned.a fucking shit hole.

[michael]

The Sun Inn is quite nice these days arriba. The brewery seem to have done up almost all of their pubs in Swindon over the last 10 years or so.

[Arriba]

yeah i go in there a bit.pricey though

[RobertT]

I've used the Crumpled twice since moving to Eldene nearly 4 years ago.  It's a sad state of affairs when I've used the Shield and Dagger more in the same period.  Shame really, it's an odd little building that should lend itself to offering something quite cosy, instead it just disgusts.

[Arriba]

i hope it gets demolished, and a chain pub does something there.the felt roof,odd design,and more importantly the dregs that drink in there are enough for me to steer clear.it's struggling from what i've heard, and is only a matter of time before it's boarded up.

[michael]

I think the Worthington in Nythe has shut now? Is that right?

[A Gent Orange]

Part of the problem has to be the switch to 'premium lager' i.e. the mass-brewered, cold fizz. Not that there is anything wrong with drinking them - I'm not being all CAMRA here - more that you can get them anywhere and that they are exactly the same wherever you drink - condition doesn't matter. So price is the only thing that is taken into account... It's the same at home as it is in the pub - and cheaper.

The only pubs doing remotely well at the moment are the mass-discounters and the high-end real-ale freehouses who can provide drinks that no-one else can.

[STFC_Gazza]

The only pubs doing remotely well at the moment are the mass-discounters and the high-end real-ale freehouses who can provide drinks that no-one else can.

I always use the same exampls and agree.

THE CHECK INN WROUGHTON - Real Ales sed by real beer drinkers, Had european lagers like Urdinger, Bitburger, Pilsner Urquell, Staropramen etc etc was booming under the old ownership of Doug Watkins. Was taken over by Fullers and they killed it. Prices went up about 60p a pint all guest ales bar 2 dissapeared and Carling, Stella, Kronenbourg replaceed Urdinger etc.

NOW the place has lost about 70% of its clientelle and I went there the other day and 3 out of 4 lagers were sold out. My favourite pub killed by Fullers.