Save our Pubs

English pubs are at the stage of evolution that seaside boarding houses were in the sixties when you had to be out of your room by 10am, rain or shine; endure awful food, fixed meal times, shared bathrooms and peculiar smells. Generally the whole place was run for the landlady. They changed to suit changing expectations, or folded. We are seeing the same process happening with pubs.

I am happy to sign a petition to save good pubs, run in a way to suit me and, in particular, provide high levels of service. Sadly, many have some way to go yet...

This isn't a cultural heritage issue, it is an issue of a service industry needing to keep up with a changing and fragmenting market. If we based our hospitably service provision on cultural heritage Travel Lodge would offer discount for more than four in a bed.
 
boatone said:
Can someone please explain to me the attraction of 'getting rat arsed' as a standard mode of behaviour? Weird - I just don't get it......
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Remember our place last year - not you but Maggie - you may be sort of , somewhere near, not quite but possibly, getting near to understanding :D:D:D

Don't know if you understand any of that but I have 'ad afew ........
 
"getting rat arsed"

basically a way of escaping the fact that you are in scuzzy dingy ill lit smelly dump of a pub with a selection of staff hand picked purely on their ability to be miserable and surly and aggressive all in one sentence and prepared to work cash in hand for 10p an hour.
Being capable of looking busy while totally ignoring customers is an advantage as is not instantly throwing up at the sight of a 40 year old Brentford Nylons swirly carpet in Autumn colours marinated in everything from Watneys Red to London Pride.
 
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shmoo said:
I am happy to sign a petition to save good pubs, run in a way to suit me and, in particular, provide high levels of service. Sadly, many have some way to go yet....
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So am I. But my idea of how a pub suits me may differ form yours. And therein lieth the rub. I don't want to freeze on the terrace with a pipe or cigar when the conversation is indoors.
I do want to be able to lean on the bar and converse with others if I feel like it.
I want a beer glass with a handle on it or the willing filling of my personal tankard when I proffer same.
I don't want a table service for drinks, I can go to a restaurant for that.
I wnat to be able to bring the children in to some parts of the place, parts that are also pleasant for me, not full of beeping machines or feral little maggots.
Ideally I want to moor up next to the pub:-)

Not easy
 
boatone said:
Can someone please explain to me the attraction of 'getting rat arsed' as a standard mode of behaviour? Weird - I just don't get it......
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A way of winding down after a long week at work and forgetting that you have to go back on Monday.

Why is the weekend only two days long?
 
Andrew_Fanner said:
So am I. But my idea of how a pub suits me may differ form yours. And therein lieth the rub. I don't want to freeze on the terrace with a pipe or cigar when the conversation is indoors.
I do want to be able to lean on the bar and converse with others if I feel like it.
I want a beer glass with a handle on it or the willing filling of my personal tankard when I proffer same.
I don't want a table service for drinks, I can go to a restaurant for that.
I wnat to be able to bring the children in to some parts of the place, parts that are also pleasant for me, not full of beeping machines or feral little maggots.
Ideally I want to moor up next to the pub:-)

Not easy
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I think it is easier than you might think: so long as the goal is service and not simply shifting the brewery's product.

"I do want to be able to lean on the bar and converse with others if I feel like it." Of course. And bar stools to facility that would be good too. And no pesky notice saying "don't drink here - this area is for service only"

"I want a beer glass with a handle on it or the willing filling of my personal tankard when I proffer same." Absolutely: you would just say "in a glass with a handle please" or hand them your personal one

"I don't want a table service for drinks, I can go to a restaurant for that." Of course: you would simply need to decline the table service and say that you will order at the bar. They would get used to it.

As for children and machines, I think there is room for different places to build difference emphases and markets. My local in Chicago was a fairly raucous sports bar most evenings, but weekends would open at 7:00am for leisurely family breakfasts to the background of the US equivalent of Radio 3, with enough copies all the Sunday papers so that if you took a bit home no-one would notice.
 
Well if we are doing ideal pubs here goes

I want a pub that doesnt allow children, has a good selection of draft lager (i know but i hate cider and real ales are rank) including coors and bud, is riverside and enjoys a sunny position and serves good honest home cooked food at reasonable prices.

I want to be able to sit where i want, in good company and not be pestered by bar staff/waiters asking "is you meal ok" every two minutes. I want friendly (but not overly friendly) staff who are pleased to see you, not look upon you as an inconvenience and also a manager who stays put for more than two months.

I know, keep dreaming, it just isnt going to happen.
 
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