God Save the Pub!



Photo by David Monniax
Ye Olde Man & Scythe in Bolton



Photo by Ashley Pomeroy
Interior of English Pub

When visiting Britain, I make it a point to visit a pub a day. I love British Pubs with their cozy welcoming atmosphere steeped in history. I’m not a huge drinker, but I love architecture, and there’s nothing better than an English Pub for preserving historical architecture. But Pub’s are in decline in Great Britain at the moment. According to CAMRA/British Beer & Pub Association, up to 18 pubs a week closed in 2012. There are many reasons for this including the ruling by the British government in the 1980’s that no brewery was allowed to have more than 2,000 tied houses by November 1992. Before then, the six big breweries owned about 80% of British pubs. It was thought that the "Beer Orders" would break up that monopoly. Instead, pubs were sold to "pubcos." Because they did not actually make the drinks, they were exempt from the law and just created a different type of monopoly.
Another reason for the decline of pubs is the change of British society. Many younger people favor drinking in bars or clubs. Traditionally Public Houses served as a community meeting place. Most people did not entertain at home, as their rooms were too small. But people today are spending more and more time at home.

Pubs are changing and have not only added food to the menu, but gastropub’s are popping up everywhere. A gastropub is concerned with the quality of the food and sometimes even concentrating on making certain the food is bought locally. This has helped reinvigorate the pub culture and British dining. Some communities are creating cooperative pubs. Locals raise money to buy a pub and then become shareholders. This originated in rural areas where the pub is essential to a small community. No matter how times change, there will always be a need for a good British pub!