Very good campaign being run by CAMRA at the moment. Interesting video on their website interviewing people running tied pubs.
Of course pubs in Ireland are closing at a quicker rate. No-one campaigning here to try to stop it. Maybe time for CAMRA Ireland to get going again. Dempsey was involved with them the last time they were here.
http://www.camra.org.uk/beertie
Take a pinch of a nation who are drinking less for economic and social awareness reasons and culturally are watching Sky now instead of chatting in the boozer
Add greedy breweries determined to maintain margins
A gross oversupply of main street public houses
A soupsom of harder enforced drink driving laws
A smidge of supermarkets who see alcohol as a loss leader
and you have the perfect recipe for...
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/4800-jobs-at-risk-as-pub-sales-plummet-3339476.html
To suggest a 15% surcharge on off trade is lazy in the extreme.
We have busy pubs here like in the UK that have reinvented themselves with craft or non standard brews, restaurants etc Oslo bar in Galway for example, for those that continue to have sticky carpets your time has come I'm afraid :(
There is way more of a pub scene in the UK than here I think. I was in London for two weekends there last month as I had connecting flights out of there. Good chance to meet up with some mates. Drank loads of deadly beer in some great pubs. Havent been in the pub that much in years.
I reckon the fact that most people dont drive there (as public transport is so good) so lunch & after work pints are easier to do.
Good point re transport, Hop Bomb.
Went home to Wales for a bit over christmas and even if the prices are comparable, you just don't mind paying the same for a pint when the pint is actually GOOD!
Ah yeah true enough.