The Pub as the Heart of Community...?
There's a historic narrative in British culture that the 'pub is the heart of the community' - I hear this a lot in casework, with many people bemoaning how their local pub is closing or has already closed.
It's true that many, many pubs have closed in recent years, and many of them independent local pubs, while corporate chains have done much better.
The larger pubs are much more able to weather the inclement mix of the huge increase in the cost of energy and raw materials, people feeling the pinch not being able to justify £6 a pint (!), with a night in seeming MUCH more appealing!
And the recent policies of increasing NI and minmium wage and rates changes haven't helped either, so many pub closures!
Bold**
But isn't it all just a myth....
I do have to wonder, I mean I love the pub, but really just sit and binge with my mates, I don't go there and get a warm sense of belonging to my local community, no pub does that for me.
I mean maybe it's different in yocal villages, but honestly most people aren't drinkers as such, and most people don't play darts, which is just about the only 'sport' I associate exclusively with pubs.
Surely cafes are more important for a sense of community, or children's play parks, factoring in parents?
I'm sure this pub as the heart of the community thing is exaggerated?!?
I think it depends on the area of the pub whether city/village etc.
I used to go to a pub often when first turning 18 my options where my local which was 5 mins down the road and not in the city so it never really got busy. Or the cheap chain Weatherspoons (whether people like or dislike they sell pints and food very cheap and will be hard for people to look elsewhere when trying to enjoy themselves on a budget). They also seem to be popping up everywhere with more local pubs closing and with chains like Greene king struggling Weatherspoons could get to that "monopoly" status. Maybe not who knows. Ramble over hehe
The first local pub had a community vibe as in you'd see for the most part the same crowd of people regardless of time and day of week Occasionally you see a new face but for the most part you'd see the same crowd and in a way I see that as a community albeit a small one. Some pubs do quiz nights, open mic, Pool/Darts. But again varies.
I enjoyed reading this post and I agree many pubs have closed and if they haven't, yet they are most likely struggling to stay in their profit margins and are under stress.
Probably not the heart of a community but a community that would not be there if it wasn't for the pub.
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