Trouble brewing for traditional pubs

reuters ^ | 2-24-03

[Dan from Michigan]

Trouble brewing for traditional pubs
Mon Feb 24,12:24 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - One of the great bastions of Britishness, the pub, is under threat and dwindling at the rate of 20 per month, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) says.

With property prices soaring, many pub chains are calling time on marginal pubs in desirable village locations and selling them off for conversion.

"Although it was encouraging to see that nearly 30 percent of UK adults visit the pub once a week or more, CAMRA was surprised to find that over a quarter of adults never visit pubs," campaigns head Mike Benner said following a new survey.

"Research also showed that 20 pubs are closing every month and if this trend continues then many of Britain's unique pubs will disappear very quickly," he added.

Pub-goers were not evenly spread, with the southeast and Scotland, the birthplace of whisky, falling at the bottom of the league.

Only 15 percent of Londoners and 23 percent of Scots visit the pub once a week or more, compared to over 40 percent in the northwest and in Wales.

[Dan from Michigan]

Always sad to see pubs close...

[AdA$tra]

My own personal brewmaster here in Topeka just returned from an ale related tour of the UK's pub scene. He said most of the places he went to were in jeopardy because they didn't keep their facilities, taps and lines clean. He saw the actual effect on product from a lack of brewing fundementals almost everywhere he went. He also brews the best India pale ale in he free world.

[DensaMensa]

Sort of like seeing small town restaurants and owner/operator gas stations disappear.

[qam1]

It's happening here in America to.

It's due to stupid Smoking bans and higher property taxes, the local pub will soon be an endangered species.

Unfortunately the only bars that can prosper are the chains like TGI Fridays & Houlihans.

[ffusco]

I'm crying in my Guinness....

[Clemenza]

Yeah, the same thing is happening in New York as well. In my neighborhood we actually still have a few TRUE Irish pubs (well, as true as you can get outside of Dublin or Cork). Unfotunatly, the trend since the early 90s has been towards "co-ed, women friendly" bars with no smoke (thanks Mayor Mike you putz!) and, ironically, female models as bartenders who wouldn't know a good Scotch if it bit them on their skinny rear ends!

[Clemenza]

Unfortunately the only bars that can prosper are the chains like TGI Fridays & Houlihans.

Perish the thought. Blunderberg's tobacco ban is going to drive many of the old school bars in the outer boroughs out of business (but what does an a--hole Manhattanite care about that).

[robriet]

We noticed you mentioned Chief Burnett’s IPA. Do you know who brews this beer and where it is located?

[aShepard]

............. CAMRA was surprised to find that over a quarter of adults never visit pubs,”................

Well, I might ask - ??what is the current population of muslims in your country??

Therein, you might find out your problem!

[guinnessman]

me too!

[decal]

PING