The demise of the British pub

 

I think there are many reasons why British pubs are closing but I don't think the smoking ban introduced in July 2007, is one of the main reasons.

I think most people who use pubs today, would generally agree that the smoking ban was a good thing because far fewer people smoke these days. If they want a cigarette they stand outside and smoke it. J.D. Wetherspoon banned smoking in their pubs before the official ban in 2007 and I don't think they suffered any financial consequences in doing so. Like many pubs, they were adversely affected by the COVID lockdown in 2020.

During the lockdown, when the pubs were closed, alcohol sales were never banned in the UK and more people started buying cans and bottles from the supermarkets which are cheaper and they have continued to do so. The price of a pint of beer has increased astronomically and I think this has led to many pubs closing. Higher energy prices and higher costs generally, have also made it more difficult to keep pubs commercially viable. While the cost of living has spiralled in the UK, and people are feeling the pinch, some pubs are charging in excess of £5 for a pint of beer and many people are not prepared to pay that for it.

Not many weeks ago, I travelled by bus from Ashton-under-Lyne to Oldham town centre. Nearly every pub along Oldham Road had closed. When I called in The Up Steps Inn, the local Wetherspoon’s in Oldham town centre, it was very busy and I'm not really surprised. I was able to buy a pint of hand pumped Green King Abbot Ale for £2.29.

Food is available in Wetherspoon pubs at a reasonable price and there is free Wi-Fi. Families take their children with them.  There is not one fixed price in Wetherspoon pubs and it will vary from area to area. A pint of Abbot Ale in J.D. Wetherspoon, would normally set me back £2.88. Not very long ago, that same pint would've cost me about £2.45.