Always in the Pub?
Discussion
Recent news story about trying to get drinkers to cut back
http://news.sky.com/story/1615254/new-guidelines-t...
Of course it's up to others what they do with their time and money. And I could care less about their health. I'm not trying to get them all down the Gym instead!
But I found it noticeable that watching the various news reporters filming in different pubs that the stereotypical Pub patron is very similar the country over. I think we all know the people that as soon as the work day ends they are off to the Pub to "unwind". Indeed one of the patrons referred to it as her "release" to have a drink.
It's a stereotype of course, but the vast majority of the people interviewed didn't strike me as very high up their respective career ladders. Indeed the people I know/have contact with, that feel the need to drink nearly EVERY day fit that criteria to a lesser or greater amount.
As a social /infrequent drinker, not normally on a school nights, and rarely in a Pub. I couldn't help wonder what they were exchanging in their lives by spending a lot of time in the local. I personally couldn't afford the time or money to do it regularly. Every know and then, fine. But not to the level that seemingly some people HAVE to. Surely you run out of things to talk about with the locals? I can't speak for others, but after 10+ hours with my colleagues. I think WE need a bit of respite from each other
So can anyone who goes to the same pub more than say 3 times a week educate me? What's the appeal? Am I the minority?
(Yes, I accept that there are people that regularly frequent wine bars after work. And that demographic is "generally" different. But I guess the question is the same. What are they getting from it?)
http://news.sky.com/story/1615254/new-guidelines-t...
Of course it's up to others what they do with their time and money. And I could care less about their health. I'm not trying to get them all down the Gym instead!
But I found it noticeable that watching the various news reporters filming in different pubs that the stereotypical Pub patron is very similar the country over. I think we all know the people that as soon as the work day ends they are off to the Pub to "unwind". Indeed one of the patrons referred to it as her "release" to have a drink.
It's a stereotype of course, but the vast majority of the people interviewed didn't strike me as very high up their respective career ladders. Indeed the people I know/have contact with, that feel the need to drink nearly EVERY day fit that criteria to a lesser or greater amount.
As a social /infrequent drinker, not normally on a school nights, and rarely in a Pub. I couldn't help wonder what they were exchanging in their lives by spending a lot of time in the local. I personally couldn't afford the time or money to do it regularly. Every know and then, fine. But not to the level that seemingly some people HAVE to. Surely you run out of things to talk about with the locals? I can't speak for others, but after 10+ hours with my colleagues. I think WE need a bit of respite from each other
So can anyone who goes to the same pub more than say 3 times a week educate me? What's the appeal? Am I the minority?
(Yes, I accept that there are people that regularly frequent wine bars after work. And that demographic is "generally" different. But I guess the question is the same. What are they getting from it?)
Worked in a pub a few years ago, a village pub that had the same people day in and day out that when they turned up, you knew exactly what time it was without looking at your watch and you worried if they were running late.
Tom and Albert; Tom was a war veteran in his 80's, single (not sure if widowed, separated or never married), he always arrived with Albert; in his 60's, retired school teacher, never married, the red faced look of a man who drinks too much.
Without fail they would come in at around 20:00 (can't remember the exact time), every week night, they had "their" seats and got the major hump if someone had taken them; it wouldn't be a local as the locals knew that was Tom and Albert's spot.
Over the course of the evening they would have 4 drinks each: Tom; 4 lots of whisky and water, Albert; 4 pints of Courage Best.
They would bore the hell out of you with their inane chat about immigrants, Europe, the Government, crime etc etc it was the same thing every day.
At between 23:30-23:45 they would finally leave, never getting the hint earlier that we all wanted to go home; we shut at 23:00. Albert would drive Tom home, the whole process to be repeated the following day.
I guess for some people, that is all they have in their lives.
Tom and Albert; Tom was a war veteran in his 80's, single (not sure if widowed, separated or never married), he always arrived with Albert; in his 60's, retired school teacher, never married, the red faced look of a man who drinks too much.
Without fail they would come in at around 20:00 (can't remember the exact time), every week night, they had "their" seats and got the major hump if someone had taken them; it wouldn't be a local as the locals knew that was Tom and Albert's spot.
Over the course of the evening they would have 4 drinks each: Tom; 4 lots of whisky and water, Albert; 4 pints of Courage Best.
They would bore the hell out of you with their inane chat about immigrants, Europe, the Government, crime etc etc it was the same thing every day.
At between 23:30-23:45 they would finally leave, never getting the hint earlier that we all wanted to go home; we shut at 23:00. Albert would drive Tom home, the whole process to be repeated the following day.
I guess for some people, that is all they have in their lives.
Edited by HTP99 on Saturday 2nd January 21:29
I go in my local once a week, sometimes less, walk the dog and drop in for a couple, the same guys are in, its weird if they arent, its a bit like NPC's in Skyrim or something when you go in a Tavern and they are the same every time, that said one of them died last year which was a shock, hadnt been in for a couple of weeks and think "Oh look a picture of Richard on the wall", then realised it was announcing his passing and when the funeral would be, only 59.
My neighbour goes in pretty much every night but goes in the tap room, which is the generally where the noisy lunatics are, he seems to be trollied every time I see him.
I like pubs but nobody should be in every night, one of the lads is worried about his drinking but still goes in and has three or four pints of Stella a night, then goes home and has wine, couldnt do it every night, have been doing over CHristmas and am glad its over.
My neighbour goes in pretty much every night but goes in the tap room, which is the generally where the noisy lunatics are, he seems to be trollied every time I see him.
I like pubs but nobody should be in every night, one of the lads is worried about his drinking but still goes in and has three or four pints of Stella a night, then goes home and has wine, couldnt do it every night, have been doing over CHristmas and am glad its over.
Never been a pub goer myself, but a couple of observations, one from a relative and one from a work colleague.
Relative, few years back, divorced and alone, was going through a rough patch in his life, used to go down to his local and get hammered practically every night. Apparently 'lock-ins' were a great delight, maybe for ooo-aren't-we-naughty adolescents, but adults, really?? Tried to convince me that he met up with a fascinating, rich tapestry of society, and really enjoyed their company yada yada. Out of curiosity I met him there one evening for a drink to meet his new-found buddies, oh dear, what a complete set of boring no-hoper saddos, knew their life histories within half an hour and very tedious they were too, had to make my excuses before I fell into a coma. Not for me.
Colleague was ex RAF and at one point after leaving the service managed a pub, with a clientele of regulars, much as above. Pub was losing money, mainly due to the fact that the saddos treated it as a social club and sat there all night nursing the odd half of bitter. He decided to shake up the whole place, and was told by the incensed punters "you can't do that, this is our pub!" Deluded or what? (He told them to do one and turned it round to profitability within the year).
Relative, few years back, divorced and alone, was going through a rough patch in his life, used to go down to his local and get hammered practically every night. Apparently 'lock-ins' were a great delight, maybe for ooo-aren't-we-naughty adolescents, but adults, really?? Tried to convince me that he met up with a fascinating, rich tapestry of society, and really enjoyed their company yada yada. Out of curiosity I met him there one evening for a drink to meet his new-found buddies, oh dear, what a complete set of boring no-hoper saddos, knew their life histories within half an hour and very tedious they were too, had to make my excuses before I fell into a coma. Not for me.
Colleague was ex RAF and at one point after leaving the service managed a pub, with a clientele of regulars, much as above. Pub was losing money, mainly due to the fact that the saddos treated it as a social club and sat there all night nursing the odd half of bitter. He decided to shake up the whole place, and was told by the incensed punters "you can't do that, this is our pub!" Deluded or what? (He told them to do one and turned it round to profitability within the year).
Guy that works with us goes to the pub every day. Consistently moans about not liking the job he is doing, won't get out of his own way to do anything about it. Won't take any advice. I'll be amazed if he makes 30 as his diet in work is energy drink and fags for breakfast. Chips and beans and fags for lunch. Then a few pints for dinner.
For Christmas he was most looking forward to going to the pub.
For Christmas he was most looking forward to going to the pub.
k you, you teetotal I have spent a long time throughout my life inside of pubs, mainly friday nights as that's when my parents and I would go to meet up with friends. They would have a few drinks and a chat, I would mainly play pool and try to join in. It's an experience I would never have wanted to give up.
I grew older and as you may expect I gravitated towards pubs as my way of socialising. I still consider the people I met there some of the best friends that I have. I used to go even when I didn't drink, a diet coke and a convivial chat with the variety of locals was often just what I needed to take my mind off of the days tribulations. It's something I miss right now living in a village without a pub.
To say that the people that frequent pubs are low down the career ladder is often incorrect. The locals around my folks area were often successful business owners, managers and retirees. There were of course those that could have been much more or who were just happy where they were. The point was that we all decided to go to the pub and be together, it didn't matter what you did or where you came from it was about listening to each other and being friends. That's what a pub was and still is to me.
I'm sure that many of you will poo-poo me and what I say but a pub is not always about the imbibing of alcohol but rather the eternal human search for company and understanding. We lose our contact with each other at our peril.
I grew older and as you may expect I gravitated towards pubs as my way of socialising. I still consider the people I met there some of the best friends that I have. I used to go even when I didn't drink, a diet coke and a convivial chat with the variety of locals was often just what I needed to take my mind off of the days tribulations. It's something I miss right now living in a village without a pub.
To say that the people that frequent pubs are low down the career ladder is often incorrect. The locals around my folks area were often successful business owners, managers and retirees. There were of course those that could have been much more or who were just happy where they were. The point was that we all decided to go to the pub and be together, it didn't matter what you did or where you came from it was about listening to each other and being friends. That's what a pub was and still is to me.
I'm sure that many of you will poo-poo me and what I say but a pub is not always about the imbibing of alcohol but rather the eternal human search for company and understanding. We lose our contact with each other at our peril.
It depends on the pub. It varies so much but in most boozers you get the professional drinker. Some of them are OK, nice guys with stories to tell. Others complete bores.
I am a regular in 3 local pubs to me.
Pub 1: I was there the other day and had a pint in the company of an Ex- RAF Hunter pilot, a Queen's Messenger, a retired bloke from the local fish market, a couple of Chief Inspectors, a printer, a jail bird and a few washed-up businessmen.
Pub 2: The guy who has a bit of a gambling problem and very funny tales about his youth in the 1970s. A chef from Essex, two dentists, a teacher, a builder, his wife and their dogs, and a new money couple who are all orange tans and white Beemers but lovely.
Pub 3: Members of the local RNLI, a composer, a crazy white guy from some Southern African nation, a boring accountant, a marine engineer, car salesman, surfer, TV actress, son of a minor pop star, a bloke who once worked with lions, TV camera man, a submariner and an antiques dealer.
As I say there are the deadbeats and losers there too, but also some fascinating and fun people.
I have a Friday afternoon beers rule. Where possible I'll call it a day on Friday lunchtime and wander out for a couple of pints - usually in pub number 3. It's something fun to do, and spending time in the informal company of strangers now and then - listening to other people's problems or takes on the world (whether you agree or not) isn't a bad thing to do:
I am a regular in 3 local pubs to me.
Pub 1: I was there the other day and had a pint in the company of an Ex- RAF Hunter pilot, a Queen's Messenger, a retired bloke from the local fish market, a couple of Chief Inspectors, a printer, a jail bird and a few washed-up businessmen.
Pub 2: The guy who has a bit of a gambling problem and very funny tales about his youth in the 1970s. A chef from Essex, two dentists, a teacher, a builder, his wife and their dogs, and a new money couple who are all orange tans and white Beemers but lovely.
Pub 3: Members of the local RNLI, a composer, a crazy white guy from some Southern African nation, a boring accountant, a marine engineer, car salesman, surfer, TV actress, son of a minor pop star, a bloke who once worked with lions, TV camera man, a submariner and an antiques dealer.
As I say there are the deadbeats and losers there too, but also some fascinating and fun people.
I have a Friday afternoon beers rule. Where possible I'll call it a day on Friday lunchtime and wander out for a couple of pints - usually in pub number 3. It's something fun to do, and spending time in the informal company of strangers now and then - listening to other people's problems or takes on the world (whether you agree or not) isn't a bad thing to do:
FRA53R said:
a pub is not always about the imbibing of alcohol but rather the eternal human search for company and understanding. We lose our contact with each other at our peril.
To true, there is nothing wrong with the pub it is the stupid macho image in this country that you have to have alcohol when you go there, jonny996 said:
To true, there is nothing wrong with the pub it is the stupid macho image in this country that you have to have alcohol when you go there,
In honesty I would not go to a pub and not have a bevvy - no point going otherwise, IMO, But I don't have to get sloshed when I do go, a couple of steady pints and a chat or few games of pool (which I am terrible at despite my years of practice) does me nicely.I was a member of both a liberal and conservative club in the village I used to go boozing in, they were both cheap as chips at the time and whilst the Libs in question was a bit of a dump my mates and I had some great laughs in there and I wouldn't change it for the world.
Met some tossers too, mind. Then again, in some of the states I have been in whilst in said pub, I have probably been that tosser to someone else too
Pub is muchly an extension of my living room in some ways. Know the landlord, the staff, the customers. Always get a discount on food, and although the beer is getting more expensive, its not daft to have a couple of pints 1 or 2 evenings a week. Nice to have a place like that, you know if you go in there is someone to speak to, a bit of company.
Did used to work at a pub in town though where you had unemployed customers in there from 11am when we opened right through til 8 or 9pm. They would have their meals at £5 each or whatever they were, and you knew when the dole money came in as they drank a bit more than usual. Not a very nice place really.
Did used to work at a pub in town though where you had unemployed customers in there from 11am when we opened right through til 8 or 9pm. They would have their meals at £5 each or whatever they were, and you knew when the dole money came in as they drank a bit more than usual. Not a very nice place really.
I go to the pub fairly often, as a rule at least twice a week specifically:
i) Friday after work for a couple before going home for dinner. Usually meet friends from all walks of life (and points on the career ladder as if that matters)
ii) Saturday post playing Rugby with my teammates and spouses.
iii) Sunday I am the quizmaster so go for the quiz but generally don't have a drink.
Having said all that there are quite a lot of regulars who will be there every day without fail, really not sure how they afford to do this but am also fairly certain I am just one divorce away from being one of them
Ben
i) Friday after work for a couple before going home for dinner. Usually meet friends from all walks of life (and points on the career ladder as if that matters)
ii) Saturday post playing Rugby with my teammates and spouses.
iii) Sunday I am the quizmaster so go for the quiz but generally don't have a drink.
Having said all that there are quite a lot of regulars who will be there every day without fail, really not sure how they afford to do this but am also fairly certain I am just one divorce away from being one of them
Ben
When I worked in a pub in Leith in the early 90s we had a lovely bunch of locals. One of my best pals worked the weekend with me, but had his own shifts during the week - I did Tues and Thurs night, he covered Mon and Wed. While many of the local locals were in there without fail every day of the week, we worked out that there were folk who only came to see me and folk who only came to see him. Even the public have their favourite bar staff.
Best locals - Russ the racist plumber, Jimmy the Joiner (could crack the Scotsman cryptic crossword in 2 hours / 5 pints every time), Callum the architect (30 years younger than Jimmy, but best mates), the gay couple whose names are lost to the past, 20 year age gap, Bob the Builder (yes really!) who was caught wearing a corset type thing to suck his beer belly in and never lived it down. Was seeing one of the barmaids who was quite kinky - he left her handcuffed to the bed, went out for a pint to tease her and forgot to go back. She was living in her mum's house at the time and had to scream for her mum to let her out when she finally got home from work. Imagine going into your daughter's room to see her handcuffed to the bed, wearing nipple tassles and suspenders...
When we moved to Plymouth in 2003, the local pub was full of all of the locals and rarely visited from outsiders. There was live music on a Friday night, a beer garden of sorts out the back and good beer and friendly bar staff. There we made all of our Plymouth friends and a lot of local help - friendly plumber, plasterer, handyman, comedy club owners, running pal, doctor, quarry owner, car nuts (lotus owning, karmann ghia owning, plymouth-dakar rally sort of folk). That was the epitome of what a local pub should be. The ability to walk in off the street at any time and find a welcome and a good chat. Still miss it.
Pub nearest me is pretty damn good too, but the regulars just have a weary sour look to them. Staff are great though and we still use it, just not as much as we should - it's only a 4 minute walk.
Best locals - Russ the racist plumber, Jimmy the Joiner (could crack the Scotsman cryptic crossword in 2 hours / 5 pints every time), Callum the architect (30 years younger than Jimmy, but best mates), the gay couple whose names are lost to the past, 20 year age gap, Bob the Builder (yes really!) who was caught wearing a corset type thing to suck his beer belly in and never lived it down. Was seeing one of the barmaids who was quite kinky - he left her handcuffed to the bed, went out for a pint to tease her and forgot to go back. She was living in her mum's house at the time and had to scream for her mum to let her out when she finally got home from work. Imagine going into your daughter's room to see her handcuffed to the bed, wearing nipple tassles and suspenders...
When we moved to Plymouth in 2003, the local pub was full of all of the locals and rarely visited from outsiders. There was live music on a Friday night, a beer garden of sorts out the back and good beer and friendly bar staff. There we made all of our Plymouth friends and a lot of local help - friendly plumber, plasterer, handyman, comedy club owners, running pal, doctor, quarry owner, car nuts (lotus owning, karmann ghia owning, plymouth-dakar rally sort of folk). That was the epitome of what a local pub should be. The ability to walk in off the street at any time and find a welcome and a good chat. Still miss it.
Pub nearest me is pretty damn good too, but the regulars just have a weary sour look to them. Staff are great though and we still use it, just not as much as we should - it's only a 4 minute walk.
Use our local at least twice a week. A few drinks on a Friday evening for a couple of hours and again on Sunday after a meal in the afternoon. I don't see the point of living in a great village without integrating into the community and that includes using the pub. We have made some great friends in the last two years and that is due to the pub.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff