Whatever happened to the great British pub?
Sunday, August 16, 2009 Before I went to France I mentioned that the online magazine Spiked was about to publish an article by Joe Jackson comparing our bar culture with that of Germany, where he now lives. I hope you had a chance to read it. Joe writes:
"I’ve always loved English pubs, but just how awful they are becoming wasn’t completely clear to me until I relocated a couple of years ago to Berlin. While too many pubs these days are soulless, generic commercial enterprises, staffed by people who clearly don’t give a damn, Berlin bars are often wonderfully idiosyncratic, and operated and patronised by people who clearly love them.
"Many bars are just holes in the wall, furnished with flea-market junk, but made welcoming with a few candles, a few flowers, some local artwork, good music or good beer. Most allow smoking, though some don’t and others have separate rooms. They also keep their prices reasonable, keep their vodka in the freezer, serve mojitos in the summer and hot chocolate laced with rum in the winter, and open and close whenever they like.
"Some of the more traditional ‘Kneipen’ (corner pubs) close as early as 9pm – just when the more bohemian places are opening. Some stay open 24 hours; others, just until the last customer leaves. And why not? We’re all over 18, aren’t we?"
The full article ("How killjoys colonised Britain’s public houses") can be found HERE.
Simon Clark
A reader has sent this email which I have forwarded to Joe:
"I read your piece on spiked-online. So now you're not only an excellent musician ("Jumping Jive" is one of my all-time favourite albums!) but an eloquent defender of the rapidly-vanishing freedom to enjoy a few pints in a decent pub. Add me to your list of supporters!"
Reader Comments (3)
The future of the Great British Pub ?
Let us hope it does NOT go the way of:
Our Wonderful Police Force, or
Our Wonderful Education System, or
Our Wonderful Health Service, or
Our Wonderful Love of Liberty............
Whatever happened to the Great British Pub? NuLabour murdered it because the party has nothing but utter contempt for the ordinary people who use it.
Too much smoke covers the stench of the sanctimonious puritans and we can't have that, can we - not in NuBritain, NuLabour and Nudictatorship.
Take a look at this
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8210551.stm