Thursday, July 13, 2006

Half full or half empty?

Have you noticed how quiet the pubs have been this year? (not just in the hot weather) Are people socialising elsewhere? And is this because drinks are so expensive in the pubs nowadays, compared with supermarket prices? If you do go to a pub for a drink or a meal, do you feel you get value for money?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pray tell dear sir where did you get your facts from? enlighten us nick, or is it just YOUR opinion?

Anonymous said...

What facts? Are you saying that the pubs are busy (World Cup excepted) or that drinks in pubs are cheap compared to supermarket prices?

Anonymous said...

drink in supermarkets are cheap thats why all the little chavs are always drunk on the streets at night, they just sell it and dont give a toss!

Anonymous said...

Its not just the pubs. There are a lot fewer people about that usual. I wialked along the seafront yesterday just after 4pm and I was amazed how few were on the beach. When we took the kids down there after school 10 or 12 years ago in Jult it was often hard to find somewhere to sit. I know the beach is a lot wider now but its nearly empty. Is it because people can't take their kids out of school to come here on holiday any more?

Anonymous said...

please bear in mind swanage is busier in the off season than it was say 12 yrs ago more walkers and 2 days away sorta thing also the 3 music festivals bring more in so on the whole it balances out.

Anonymous said...

The original post concerned the state of pubs today and whether they offer value for money. I was hoping to hear your opinion.

The lack of response on this matter leads me to believe that you don't use pubs. Is that correct?

Anonymous said...

no

Anonymous said...

but surley part of your question has been answered, if swanage has changed and itself is not so busy it knocks on to pubs aswell as other places. just my thoughts

Anonymous said...

Just like the beach seems emptier because there is more of it serving the same, (or fewer) people, likewise the number of people in any one pub now is spread out between the many more premises serving alcohol. You are now never more than 7.5 yards from a drink in the Lower High Street !

Anonymous said...

So let's hear what you think then!

Do pubs give value for money?

Anonymous said...

I think the nub of your question has been answered swanage is not so busy ergo the pubs are not, also as one poster said theres more to choose from now, but good value thats subjective is it not< I dont use pubs so tell me, if you want others opinions perhaps give yours 1st DO YOU find them good value

Anonymous said...

I have a strong suspicion that relative prices have a lot to do with the small numbers in the pubs. At one time a bottle of wine from a shop cost 4 or 5 times as much as a pint of beer in a pub. They are almost the same now so drinking in pubs has ceased to be economic.

The mark up on both food and drink in this country is preposterous. You get rushed 20 quid for a bottle of something that retails for less than a fiver and charged as much again for food the restauranteur has removed from its packet and microwaved. This is a town where "fresh" means freshly defrosted. Compare prices here with the US or France and ask why its quiet and you will have your answer.

Anonymous said...

You're absolutely right. My wife was charged £4 for a glass of plonk that costs less than that per bottle in an off licence.

Anonymous said...

ohhhh please be very very carefull when you acuse peolple of fresh being frozen is it libel when you say that? asing point a pub in poole was visited by trading standards and had to produce all the fresh produce from the menu and prove there and then it was NOT frozen even showing wrappers to prove certain cheeses and meats were used, also in France the basic ingredidnets are so mush cheaper so its reflected in the price they charge, also typical french they dont stick to the rules as much as the english do, therefore the overheads are less

Anonymous said...

Regardless of whether the French are a nation of "shortcutters", which sounds libellous to me, people will go where they can get what they want for the least expenditure.

Why are the ingredients cheaper in France. If there is a big difference why does't someone import wholesale and undercut UK caterer's suppliers? The amount the farmers get here is notoriously low so who is pocketing the difference?

You would think offering locally grown food would be an attractive option but there does not seem to be any interest in that.

The traffic seems to be light for the time of year as well. Perhaps it will all change when the schools break up

Anonymous said...

went to france a while back, stood using the urinal and could watch em cook fries would not get away with it here, also french markets would skinned rabbits be allowed in this country? french sticks cost pennies beer etc etc wines at reasonable quality £1 a bottle it goes on. schools break up when next week ?

Anonymous said...

Apparently the pubs are full of feckless wasters who came here to steal our housing, take drugs and rip off private landlords thereby forcing them to keep properties empty. This has caused the wicked government to bring in a new law to confiscate all private property and imprison Daily Telegraph readers. Actually I'm wrong, the pubs aren't full, but the tables outside are.
Duncan

Anonymous said...

Yes, I have read some pretty moronic postings on different topics. They usually come from folk who sound like they have escaped from an Alf Garnett timewarp. The poor sad leftovers post their opinions as if they were some sort of orthodoxy we should all respect. Every time they see something that differs from their outlook we are treated to name calling and abuse. Says everything about their ability to hold a rational discussion doesn't it.

Anonymous said...

healthy debate is fun tho, sometimes it gets heated but a great way to let of steam !better than fisty cuffs aswell