Ever-increasing energy bills have been one of the dominant stories in the news for weeks if not months. And anyone with a passing interest in pubs will be well aware that many are struggling against a tide of rising costs and competitive pressures. So it comes as something of a surprise to find so many pubs where the owners can afford to heat them, not just to be comfortably warm, but to be oppressively hot. It’s not all or most pubs, but certainly a significant minority, and in my experience the overheated pub in winter is considerably more common than the chilly one. Indeed I pointed this out fifteen years ago.
It’s sometimes claimed this is a trick to encourage people to drink faster, but in reality most pub customers have a ration that they stick to and some may even be prompted to move elsewhere if they feel uncomfortable. And, while there may be a need to replace heat lost by the frequent opening and closing of doors, that doesn’t mean you need to turn cosy areas well away from the main entrance into saunas.
It seems to stem from the same mentality that leads people to whinge about fuel poverty while still expecting to be able to sit around the house wearing a T-shirt in the middle of winter. Perhaps if pub operators were a little bit more careful in controlling their costs they wouldn’t find themselves in such financial straits. And if they say “we can’t make it pay”, maybe it needs to be questioned where they chose to set their thermostat.
Good to see that your miserable setting isn't a recent affectation; smoking/industrial size packets of crisps/heating controls - I guess there'll always be something for you to rail against.
ReplyDeleteOf course many pubs have to keep
ReplyDeletethe heat on full in order to keep
their dwindling clientele of shivering,muttering,holier than thou ,loners,drop outs and bloated pontificaters.
Anyway,half the pubs in my town
dont have an energy bill problem,
they're SHUT
Dare I mention why ?
No,better not,could upset the cozy league.
Mudgie Fan
He's like the Goldilocks of pubs is Mudgie but with dumpy pubs rather than ready brek. This ones too hot, this ones too cold, ah this ones just right. Christ, a big hairy bear. Actually no, just a beardie beer geek.
ReplyDeleteIt's all crap though eh Mudge? No bright side. I guess the looming cut in business rates for small business, including grotty boozers, is nowt to cheer you up?
I can't say I've noticed any excessively warm pubs. Some people sit in the pub all night without taking their coat off - not one of those, are you? Because you won't feel the benefit, you know.
ReplyDeleteYou must be growing old and your blood getting thin, Nev.
ReplyDelete