Tuesday 15 November 2011

Pretentious, moi?

On an e-mail group, we were having a discussion about the Brunning & Price chain of pubs. While they have much to be said for them (not least in doing exactly what they say on the can) it cannot be denied that they have an unashamedly upmarket aspiration and ambiance. They’re not places for darts and doms and crib and meat raffles.

One correspondent said “we have never felt out of place, even when we staggered in after a long walk dressed in mud-stained walking gear.” But isn’t rambling the absolute acme of the pursuits of the comfortably-off, real ale slurping, slow food chomping, liberal middle class whom they are trying to attract? You have to wonder whether they might have received quite such a warm welcome had they wandered in wearing football shirts or motorcycle leathers.

3 comments:

  1. Had to laugh at the idea of a bunch of lads in football colours wandering into a B & P pub. Having said this, you are dead right, they are aiming at a certain demographic, with some success it would appear. No reason why such people shouldn't be catered for, provided it isn't at the expense of everyone else. Personally, I quite like B & P because you tend to get good beer and food (at a price) and in my experience, they let my dog in, which doesn't happen in most gastros. Don't think I'd like it if the only pub in my locality became a B & P though. Still want darts, doms, crib & meat raffles.

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  2. You are correct about football shirts. The one in Chester doesn't allow them unless they are of the local team Chester FC (discrimination surely). It is a pain when Rovers have been playing away as Harkers is convenient for Chester station. Of course, there is no problem when wearing Rugby shirts.

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  3. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking B&P at all - I just thought it was laughable that being rambler-friendly was perceived as a sign of them being down-to-earth.

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