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Saving our Inner-city Pubs
- Thread starter wessex
- Start date
Frothblower
Lubrication In Moderation
I know of a pub that does not sell food but you can eat your own and they will supply the plates cutlery and condiments. Thats The Wellington on Bennetts hill.
https://www.thewellingtonrealale.co.uk/
https://www.thewellingtonrealale.co.uk/
Peter Walker
gone but not forgotten
Lyn,
I don't think you will find a real chippy within walking distance of 37 Bennetts Hill, where the prize-winning Wellington does it's brilliant business. It's really city-centre anyway, rather than inner-city.
Going out a bit further, westwards, the Prince of Wales in Cambridge Street is a traditional pub with good food, which is also under threat of closure. Always nice people behind the bar, and the guvnor does a cracking faggots & peas.
Or going south, there are two really nice places in Bradford Street, the Anchor at the corner of Rea Street, and the White Swan at the corner of Birchall Street (or is it Alcester Street?). The Anchor does food most of the time, unlike the White Swan, but the people who run both of them are marvellous.
Or you can go another way to reach the Sacks of Potatoes at Gosta Green. It's a bit trendier here because it is right right next to Aston University. But the beer is always the best, and quite a good range of food as well.
I've not mentioned the Queen's Arms at the bottom of Newhall Street, corner of Charlotte Street or the Shakespeare on the Parade, corner of Lionel Street, or the Old Contemptibles in Livery Street, corner of Edmund Street, all good places.
Peter
I don't think you will find a real chippy within walking distance of 37 Bennetts Hill, where the prize-winning Wellington does it's brilliant business. It's really city-centre anyway, rather than inner-city.
Going out a bit further, westwards, the Prince of Wales in Cambridge Street is a traditional pub with good food, which is also under threat of closure. Always nice people behind the bar, and the guvnor does a cracking faggots & peas.
Or going south, there are two really nice places in Bradford Street, the Anchor at the corner of Rea Street, and the White Swan at the corner of Birchall Street (or is it Alcester Street?). The Anchor does food most of the time, unlike the White Swan, but the people who run both of them are marvellous.
Or you can go another way to reach the Sacks of Potatoes at Gosta Green. It's a bit trendier here because it is right right next to Aston University. But the beer is always the best, and quite a good range of food as well.
I've not mentioned the Queen's Arms at the bottom of Newhall Street, corner of Charlotte Street or the Shakespeare on the Parade, corner of Lionel Street, or the Old Contemptibles in Livery Street, corner of Edmund Street, all good places.
Peter
thanks for the info though...your precise knowledge never ceases to amaze me....Interesting points here,especially the 4 cans for the price of a pub pint.
I've not drunk for 20 years,and been out the country for half that time...so excuse me if I blinked and missed something.
Anyway while a pub must always be more expensive than out sales you have to strike a balance.In my view brewery greed started the decline,and in many ways is still behind it.
Until the 90s the breweries even dominated out sales with many offies being owned by them,and supermarkets selling mainly their products.This changed in the early 90s,but the breweries still kept pub prices high,and while the pub price was perhaps half as much again it is now 4 times,or more.....ridiculous.The taxes are the same,but of course add in the extras the government make the bars do,and you begin to see why only a few pubs will survive.
Society has changed,and pubs are just not as an important part of it as before.But the fault is not just with society changing,or stupid government laws like no smoking.It is also up to bar owners to use more imagination to make us want to visit.Some places always buck a trend,but only by doing something different.Fiddling and wailing while Rome burns won't help,nor will blaming stay away punters.You have to give people a reason to want to come in,and that is what's lacking so much.
My biggest sympathy is for tied tenants,people who have no real leeway on prices etc,nasty position to be in.
I've not drunk for 20 years,and been out the country for half that time...so excuse me if I blinked and missed something.
Anyway while a pub must always be more expensive than out sales you have to strike a balance.In my view brewery greed started the decline,and in many ways is still behind it.
Until the 90s the breweries even dominated out sales with many offies being owned by them,and supermarkets selling mainly their products.This changed in the early 90s,but the breweries still kept pub prices high,and while the pub price was perhaps half as much again it is now 4 times,or more.....ridiculous.The taxes are the same,but of course add in the extras the government make the bars do,and you begin to see why only a few pubs will survive.
Society has changed,and pubs are just not as an important part of it as before.But the fault is not just with society changing,or stupid government laws like no smoking.It is also up to bar owners to use more imagination to make us want to visit.Some places always buck a trend,but only by doing something different.Fiddling and wailing while Rome burns won't help,nor will blaming stay away punters.You have to give people a reason to want to come in,and that is what's lacking so much.
My biggest sympathy is for tied tenants,people who have no real leeway on prices etc,nasty position to be in.
maggieuk
The Fairybrain of Brum
ethanedwards
Brummie Muso
I agree, that Landlords should use their imaginantion.
Where else in the world, would you sit down to have a meal,
and have to get up and queue at the bar to get a drink,
whilst your meal goes cold.
Everywhere else you can get served at your table.
More often than not the staff standing around doing nothing!
I can't count the number of times I visited a local carvery,
and was confronted with tables piled high with the remants
of the last half a dozen diners, having to clear a table myself,
once again while staff stood around talking!!
If pubs are to survive and continue to charge high prices,
they have to do something in return,
better service would do for a start!!
Where else in the world, would you sit down to have a meal,
and have to get up and queue at the bar to get a drink,
whilst your meal goes cold.
Everywhere else you can get served at your table.
More often than not the staff standing around doing nothing!
I can't count the number of times I visited a local carvery,
and was confronted with tables piled high with the remants
of the last half a dozen diners, having to clear a table myself,
once again while staff stood around talking!!
If pubs are to survive and continue to charge high prices,
they have to do something in return,
better service would do for a start!!
Charlie
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
The Fox in Hurst Street (opposite the Hippodrome and Back to Backs) used to be a thriving city centre pub. The last few times I've been in trade was very slow...why?....they opened a Wetherspoons right next door!
I think Wetherspoons are like Tescos and are out to take over the country :shocked:
But, then again, that's what folk want - a cheap(ish) pint of real ale and cheap food. How can any town pub compete?
I think Wetherspoons are like Tescos and are out to take over the country :shocked:
But, then again, that's what folk want - a cheap(ish) pint of real ale and cheap food. How can any town pub compete?
Well Maggie,it's not just trying,it's about succeeding.
Only some will achieve this,same as in all business.
If it was easy then most pubs would be a success,alas this is not the case.
My comments were in general,and not aimed specifically at one place.
Wetherspoons have a winning formula for big,town center places,but wouldn't work in say Hockley.The Lord Clifden owners have made it work twice,but with no guarantee it would work elsewhere etc.
Twas in times past generally enough to run a few successful teams,like bowls,darts etc,but is that enough anymore?
Personally feel a mini bus is required if you're out of the way,and then you could pick up punters willing to travel for the right atmosphere.But even then I guess it'll still need more...but what is up to the owner.However reasonably priced food and drink is a start.
There was a time I was prepared to invest in a pub,back in the late 80s/early 90s,wouldn't dream about it now though.
Only some will achieve this,same as in all business.
If it was easy then most pubs would be a success,alas this is not the case.
My comments were in general,and not aimed specifically at one place.
Wetherspoons have a winning formula for big,town center places,but wouldn't work in say Hockley.The Lord Clifden owners have made it work twice,but with no guarantee it would work elsewhere etc.
Twas in times past generally enough to run a few successful teams,like bowls,darts etc,but is that enough anymore?
Personally feel a mini bus is required if you're out of the way,and then you could pick up punters willing to travel for the right atmosphere.But even then I guess it'll still need more...but what is up to the owner.However reasonably priced food and drink is a start.
There was a time I was prepared to invest in a pub,back in the late 80s/early 90s,wouldn't dream about it now though.
You can't compete without the tools,and this is again down to brewery greed.In about 1990 the big brewers tried to put Wetherspoons out of business by blocking their expansion,using their influence with local councils etc.You have to ask if you'd prefer to see the brewers go out of business.
The Wetherspoons formula could easily be reproduced,if you have the money,but those with the cash want to sit back and milk the profits without the work.
I still say that with thought a well run bar can profit,but it has to have a good business brain,as well as a good pub brain....oh and cash flow
Lloyd
master brummie
If you look at the clientèle that pubs were built for, you can see why many of them can't survive. They went up in an age when the working class (who were in the majority) didn't have cars, mortgages, TVs, or anything better to do at night - except the occasional visit to the cinema. Almost everyone in a locality knew everyone else, the pub was their meeting place, a communal front room, so to speak. Customers would gather round a piano and make their own entertainment - something people don't seem capable of doing these days.
Times, living conditions and people have all changed, and their need for a public house has as well. You can't (shouldn't) drink and drive a car, so it's easier to stay at home and drink cheap supermarket beer.
Of those who do want to go out, some want to be entertained - not quite to club standard, but not in an amateurish way, some want a quiet drink and chat with friends, some want a place where they can take the whole family including infants for a meal. Some pubs have gone along different tracks to achieve some of what they perceive customers want, but there are still not enough customers to go around. Big suburban pubs are as good as done for, either being swept away to be replaced by housing or supermarkets, or being turned into super huge Chinese restaurants.
In inner city, suburb, and country village a few pubs will survive, temporarily I fear, but many more will go. There isn't a simple 'quick fix' solution.
Times, living conditions and people have all changed, and their need for a public house has as well. You can't (shouldn't) drink and drive a car, so it's easier to stay at home and drink cheap supermarket beer.
Of those who do want to go out, some want to be entertained - not quite to club standard, but not in an amateurish way, some want a quiet drink and chat with friends, some want a place where they can take the whole family including infants for a meal. Some pubs have gone along different tracks to achieve some of what they perceive customers want, but there are still not enough customers to go around. Big suburban pubs are as good as done for, either being swept away to be replaced by housing or supermarkets, or being turned into super huge Chinese restaurants.
In inner city, suburb, and country village a few pubs will survive, temporarily I fear, but many more will go. There isn't a simple 'quick fix' solution.
S
Stitcher
Guest
Hello Lloyd, if you have'nt been past the site lately you may not know that the two quaint cottages adjoining the Highway have been flattened and cleared.
lurchphoic
master brummie
Does any one have a photograph of the first/old Chestnuts pub Garretts Green Sheldon 1950-early 60s. This was more or less a wooden shed, bar and lounge with an outdoor in the middle. I believe this same type building was also at the Radleys before they built the Cabin. The Chestnuts was replaced in the 60s with a brick building called The Chestnut Tree. PhilC