Has Covid and inflation killed pubs and clubs?

Malaguena

Malaguena

Well-known member
Nano said:
That might be one of the biggest changes. I have noticed that people go out in bigger groups these days which means a bigger mix and having to cater for everyone. The younger generation are less divided on strict gender lines like they used to be. The biggest change is that blokes are no longer scared to do things that they would have been bullied for in the past. If you wanted to go out for a coffee with your mate 20 years ago then there would have been a much more toxic reaction than these days. People can be themselves and do what they want so aren't facing the peer pressure to go to the pub for a pint so they can have a chat even if they don't want a pint. A lot of the things people want from a night out these days involves an activity. In the cities there are bars that have games like darts, bowling, mini golf, axe throwing etc. People don't want just a drink as much anymore.

People get used to doing things with their partners as well so going for a coffee is normal. Meeting a friend is the thing you are doing. Why does the setting have to be important? Is there really much difference between it being a pint, a coffee or a burger? The cafe culture is ubiquitous around the world. It's not just new to blokes in the UK, it's weird that it has taken so long to catch on. We're still at the point where it is a daytime activity though. You don't get many coffee shops staying open into the evening like you do across the continent. The pub/bar/restaurant scene dominates on an evening still. I presume that will change in the not too distant future.
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At last, the UK goes continental Europe - what is being described in this thread is how France, Spain etc has been for years, and ditto the demographic profile. In Spain, everyone mixes - young / old, male / female - and all "bars" cater for every profile. Coffee at 23:00 / midnight is not seen as "strange", but equally, nor is a small glass of white at 10:00.
 
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caravan club

New member
Obviously covid did have a big effect in that once you stopped doing something you always did ( going to the pub) you then realised it maybe wasn’t as great as you thought it was, and did something else with your time, and money.
Lots of other things have happened in recent times though that have impacted me on the traditional pub scene. The relaxation in opening hours has seen a gradual change from the midday drinking session now pushing back to a tea time session which has virtually killed of the weekday trade in almost all but the “cheap drinks” town centre pubs, hence a lot of establishments not opening till 4 during the week.
Sunday is now the new Saturday in some peoples eyes with the idea of going to the pub revolving around televised football timings, go out a bit later, have lunch out and keep everyone happy- this is written from a male perspective as this was traditionally a male dominated environment !
The restrictions on granting licenses for sale of alcohol have been relaxed meaning anyone can lease a unit, buy from anyone at a discounted rate and kill the trade of the tied pub down the road who has to buy at an inflated rate from the pub owners.
I think we will see more go to the wall ( this traditionally quite month, January, not being the best time to make a judgment ) and we’ll see lots of weekend only openings become the norm.
Use it or lose it!
 
Capybara

Capybara

Well-known member
Pubs are very much alive and well where I am. Only one went out of business during covid but it has reopened under new management and is thriving as are all the other pubs near me. And it's young people who are driving that. I'd hoped for a a few quiet days after new year but I went in last night - Monday is meant to be a quiet night and in January it should be even quieter. But the pub was full and there were lots of young people in. It seems that these days you have to all speak (or, rather, shout) at the same time while showing each other your mobile 'phone and laughing. I'm sure this trend will make its way north in due course. Feel free to hoof when it doesn't.
 
h_m_boro

h_m_boro

Well-known member
Fat_Dragon said:
Back in my day people used to go out for the sole purpose of getting drunk. Today people go out for the social interaction......
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As I've got older - and I may well be wrong - it appeared that younger people went out with the sole purpose of getting absolutely hammered, and indeed wore it as a badge of honour the more hammered they were......whatever time of night. Falling over at 9 o clock - wahey! We would have the absolute p*ss ripped out of us for not being able to hold your beer - changing times.

Also work with a much younger crowd, and at works dos there is a healthy number who get absolutely smashed and seem to be on a mission to do so - could be the student mentality, dunno. And also looked at me weird when I told them I wasn't drinking, and no, I wasn't a recovering alcoholic 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️
 
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Corcaigh_the_Cat

Well-known member
JM14 said:
wages significantly behind inflation, huge interest rates, unstable rental market. It’s not difficult to see why younger people can’t afford to go out like people did 20 years ago
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They spend a lot more on home entertainment, cars and take away food too. Credit cards weren't the norm back then, we didn't have to service debt.

The dip in pub popularity preceded both high interest rates and Covid.

Youngsters eat and drink a lot more now than we did, look at obesity figures and the amount of young people with diabetes.

They're not going out for 3 or 4 pints four or five times a week after stopping eating at 6 o'clock. They're loading up on cheap supermarket booze and having food delivered when they get the munchies.
 
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changingman

Well-known member
Energy costs have had a massive impact recently. Most decent pubs in Sheffield rebounded (hard) after Covid, many exceeding forecasts etc. Think there has been a lull since mainly cost of living and energy costs driven. Whilst few good pubs have closed, many are adapting their opening hours particularly during "off-peak" times.

Cheaper to open later than lose money during the day paying staff, energy etc and not making it back through the till.

At least Covid has given many establishments the flexibility to operate profitably in terms of opening hours, although I do miss the ability to rock up in any town/city after 1100 knowing every establishment will be open!
 
muniz

muniz

Well-known member
it's down to the prices after covid all the young uns were out all the time, now the price to get mortal for one of them like i used to back in my day is pushing £200 if they going to a top club with known djs on (tickets for that alone can be £25 to £40) the prices are killing them off and the clubs are harder than in my day to get off ya face by other means too.

if they like anything like me and my friends were when I was younger not all of us had money, but always be enough of us who did so some people would have borrows so they could still come out and get a few drinks, but gone are the days (unless ya a nice female lol) of borrowing £20/£40 or having your mates pay for you to come along, that £20 wouldn't get you in the door of many of the more popular night clubs, certainly not the ones billed out as dance events

much easier and probably more fun to just sesh round a friends house and do what you want and keep some wages for the next days sesh lol
 
muniz

muniz

Well-known member
locomansimon said:
Here in Whitby a lot of the pubs are shut by 9 o'clock and some don't open on Monday and Tuesday . It's simply too expensive, £5.50 for a very average pint of black sheep is just far too dear !
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yeah its daft but thats only way they covering the energy bills now I think, I dont go out unless its for meals but seems like you could go out with a half dozen friends and if they not all having the cheaper pints you could be paying £50 a round very easily lol
 
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Corcaigh_the_Cat

Well-known member
Malaguena said:
Says somebody who wasn't trying to get on the housing ladder in the early 90s with interest rates at 15%
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It's incredible that in this era of extended low interest (until very recently) that it's getting the blame for a problem that's being going on for a decade or more.
 
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Trug

Well-known member
My local plays music at ear splitting levels. Conversation is carried out by shouting at the person next to you. I have hearing problems and have told the landlord about this- tough luck he said
 
Malaguena

Malaguena

Well-known member
Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret said:
People feeling guilty about their unearned income? It's not even a mildly controversial point. Housing and rent have accelerated at ridiculous levels and people now have to pay far more for a roof over their head. You can see why the term ok boomer sprung up.
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And yet, nowhere near where mortgage rates and (relatively) rental levels were the early 90s, as I've said above - when interest rates get to 15% and you can't afford your new fancy phone every year, top of the range gaming laptop every year, season ticket every year, go to every away match each season, and have three holidays a year, then you can come crying.

Never mind "boomer" generation, we're currently in "self entitled" generation
 
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Nano

Well-known member
Malaguena said:
And yet, nowhere near where mortgage rates and (relatively) rental levels were the early 90s, as I've said above - when interest rates get to 15% and you can't afford your new fancy phone every year, top of the range gaming laptop every year, season ticket every year, go to every away match each season, and have three holidays a year, then you can come crying.

Never mind "boomer" generation, we're currently in "self entitled" generation
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15% of a small number is less significant than 5% of a big number.

Average house price in 1985 was £30k, average salary was £9k. 3.33x income to house price.

Today it is £300k, average salary is £27k. 11.11x income to house price.
 
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