Mike4 wrote:
A single data point also illustrating a trend. I drove past my own village pub last night at 9.30 and glanced through the windows to note it was completely empty. Probably because the front door was closed and locked. Closed, at 9.30pm on a Thursday?! I ask you! Are pubs sometimes not their own worst enemies?
I go out bellringing several times a week in a variety of church towers and the social dimension is the pint or two in the pub after, at about 9.15pm. This 'pint after' aspect of bellringing has virtually died out around here as all the pubs have usually closed their doors by the time we are out hunting for a pint, whatever day of the week it is.
really valid points Mike4.
One of my favourite pubs around these parts I cant ever view as a destination pub for the evenings, as you can never guarantee it being open ... published opening hours are only a starter for one sided negotiation
So its a case if in passing
1) seeing its open
2) being in the mood!
As a local CAMRA branch our monthly meetings have historically been Tuesday nights, and we try to visit all the pubs in our area in turn (takes about 4.25 years for a cycle!
) . Since covid that night has become a bit flexible - some pubs aren't ever open on a Tuesday (or Monday) now.
I can see that its a double edged sword - they could be open but nobody "ever" come in. But when you are closed nobody can ever come in.
meanwehile I am also that CAMRA branch's Pub Liasion officer. At elast yearly i will trawl through our pubs and check as best I can (web searches bascially) contact details for each pub. having squared that away I then contact every pub via email/messenger/whatsapp etc with a "hi its me again, just checking in blah blah blah and anything we as a branch shoud be aware of or that we can help with or just promote any special stuff you are doing". Out of about 30-odd pubs, about half a doizebn of them will respond. And quelle surprise they are the pubs that feature prominently in the GBG or similar high profile local media. that elaves about two dozen at elast that we never hear a peep from. could be of course that their published contacts aren't up to date ... or maybe they just don't care (they don't have to of course interface with us after all). But it does make you wonder...