tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post194108598471843247..comments2024-03-29T08:01:51.705+00:00Comments on The Pub Curmudgeon: Micro vs Macro economicsCurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-51787735863902529052014-02-24T13:12:48.787+00:002014-02-24T13:12:48.787+00:00or smokers could have had the common decency to un...or smokers could have had the common decency to understand the importance of the pub and accepted paying £3+ to stand out in the rain or even in the interest of the pub, given up. But they didn't. They decided to stay at home and make dodgy shed DIY bars, being the selfish bastards they are. Makes me sick.<br />Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-2239077361403852802014-02-24T13:03:04.332+00:002014-02-24T13:03:04.332+00:00Well, they could always have not implemented the s...Well, they could always have not implemented the smoking ban...Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-16441477240453049162014-02-24T10:04:59.389+00:002014-02-24T10:04:59.389+00:00I still refuse to believe that there was/is nothin...I still refuse to believe that there was/is nothing that could be done about the overall decline in demand for pubs.pynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-4732678308678244762014-02-23T18:02:50.290+00:002014-02-23T18:02:50.290+00:00Im not sure if this proves or disproves anything, ...Im not sure if this proves or disproves anything, but the 3 supermarket pub conversions we had locally last year, only 1 Id have said was a truly struggling pub. <br /><br />The other 2 maybe werent rolling in customers, but were popular enough locally given their non central locations and 1 of them was a frequent GBG entrant/contender. <br /><br />And it was very much a failure of application of the planning rules IMO, the council tried hardest to block the 1st conversion which happened to be the most struggling pub, lost that fight and then pretty much decided it wasnt up for the fight for the rest.<br /><br />Also whilst the supermarkets claim they only target the struggling pubs, they manage to ignore a surprisingly wide variety of them if the location clashes with some nearby competition.Stonohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656315721111561414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-29700678830818974332014-02-23T14:13:18.952+00:002014-02-23T14:13:18.952+00:00One further point to make is one o planning regula...One further point to make is one o planning regulations. The current system is not unfair. Some residents will have legitimate concerns regarding a new pub in terms of noise & disturbance late at night. These are not true of a convenience store where objections are more nimby. A store will affect my business, I want to keep the pub despite commercial reality, a poundland brings down the area.Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-88955801424629276862014-02-23T12:54:06.267+00:002014-02-23T12:54:06.267+00:00It's a difficult one because in one way the vi...It's a difficult one because in one way the viability of the pub is unrelated to its trading conditions. The value of the core asset, the building, is subject to more than its use as a pub. Factors in the property market can increase its market value for alternate use. If for reasons of increased demand for housing the asset price of the pub doubles it can appear to trade well but in reality be under performing in terms of return on capital employed.<br /><br />Further, what is often not recognized is that pub enthusiasm is a minority sport, and not representative of a wider community. Most people would get more use out of a Sainsburys Local than a pub.<br /><br />As for whinges about local shops, these chain stores succeed because they are not as complacent. We can all say we prefer local traders but we really only do when they offer us a better deal than national traders.<br />Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-86224057335056731292014-02-22T20:40:46.836+00:002014-02-22T20:40:46.836+00:00Last night an item of news on ITV caught my attent...Last night an item of news on ITV caught my attention,the last night of the oldest working men's club in England,in Staffordshire <br />I think,not sure.Naturally the item had no chance of coverage on Nanny BBC.<br />Two regulars were selected for their views and reasons for the decline in custom in recent years. Guess what ? Lack of women membership was their only <br />suggestion. Sad old idiots ,scared of stating the obvious,forewarned of avoiding <br />"controversial " issues.<br />I know,we know, anyone with an 11+<br />knows why the working class pubs and clubs are being destroyed but few have the bollocks to say so.<br /><br />The Thin Red Line Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-47971427755779642712014-02-22T18:57:00.526+00:002014-02-22T18:57:00.526+00:00I can't think of one example in my area of a v...I can't think of one example in my area of a viable pub that's been converted into a mini supermarket, and I can't think of one that's not appeared in what used to be a thriving (15+ years ago) estate-type pub. Supermarkets like them because in some cases the owners have kept the premises licence current and in the others they can easily argue the case for a new one. Many are bought up by property speculators and then leased to the highest bidding supermarket chain. <br /><br />The argument I have against supermarkets expanding their market share in this way is that they're doing their bit for the decline of pubs by making cheaper alcohol even more readily available to local residents. They also put pressure on existing shops. ElectricPicsnoreply@blogger.com