The future of British pub culture
It’s safe to say the Brits have wasted no time in heading back to the beer gardens and rooftop terraces – albeit wrapped up and under patio heaters. But what is the future of British pub culture going to look like after the events of the past year?
When the smoking ban was introduced in 2007 there was initial uproar, with people claiming the death of pub culture. But over ten years on and pub culture is not thriving, but the number of people smoking has declined. In the same way the smoking ban led to cleaner pubs, could the new normal of British pub culture lead to a better way?
Time to get organised
Impromptu nights out could be off the cards – or at least for the foreseeable. With most pubs, restaurants and bars fully booked, it’s left the more disorganised left behind – at home. Whilst we increasingly rely on scheduling to organise lives, it appears ‘organised’ fun can actually decrease how much we enjoy them.
Allocating time for activities, like going to the pub means there are set beginning and end points – in this instance showing up for your pre-booked table for an allocated time could turn your fun trips to the pub into feeling like a work meeting.
We may find that whilst pre-booking is in place, the novelty of going to the pub could dwindle until a more relaxed approach is reinstated.
Fewer options
British pub culture has been ‘under threat’ for a number of years, with punters preferring wine bars and bistros to pubs, and as a result of lockdown and dwindling numbers more than 30 pubs and restaurants are closing every day in the UK. This could mean that customers have fewer options when it comes to their local.
It’s not just pubs who are suffering, many independent breweries are calling time on their products. We know that every sector in the UK has suffered, but brewers and pubs seem to have taken the brunt of the impact. Breweries haven’thad access to business rates holiday or grants, leaving them left out of government support packages. Not only that, but the tax hike is around the corner for hundreds of small breweries, is likely to push struggling businesses over the edge.
Cleaner environments
Perhaps the main benefit of this new pub culture is that overall cleanliness will be improved. From cleaning sprays to additional hand washing, card payments to table service, hygiene levels in our favourite watering holes will increase.
And hopefully these cleaner habits will continue into the future. We have still have a few more weeks before full easing to come into force and we may have to wait a few more months – even years to realise what the future of pub culture is. But, like the rest of society, it evolves and changes to keep up with the wants and needs.
