futchers briefs Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 May have been posted before but...... How many have you been in? How many do you remember..... How times are changin'...... closed!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Odd you should mention this, drove through Ashton and went up to Mossley, Grotton and back around through Saddleworth today - some belting pubs in around there. Not quite in keeping with your OP - but as a contrast.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 May have been posted before but...... How many have you been in? How many do you remember..... How times are changin'...... closed!! Link not working for me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboafc Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Link not working for me... the link was closed as fast as a pub shut's down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futchers briefs Posted October 11, 2009 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 the link was closed as fast as a pub shut's down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futchers briefs Posted October 11, 2009 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 (edited) sorry about the link. type oldham dead pubs in youtube....this should get you there! Sorry an' all Back to it lessons hey! you're right Rummy 'an all. there seems a lot of smaller villages/towns, where local pubs seem to be thriving Edited October 11, 2009 by futchers briefs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 It's a shame, but unsurprising. People's habits have changed. Gone are the days when lots of men made a trip to the boozer virtually every night - whether it was a couple of pints at teatime after work, or a couple at last orders, or just a skinful every night. And then there's the massively different demographics of our urban areas these days to consider. I am amazed at how some pubs are managing to stay open - you drive past them and they always seem to have about 2 people in, even on a Friday night. I'm not so sure I'd agreed that pubs in smaller towns/villages are faring much better - they seem to be struggling as well, unless they've started serving food and become more of a restaurant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futchers briefs Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 It's a shame, but unsurprising. People's habits have changed. Gone are the days when lots of men made a trip to the boozer virtually every night - whether it was a couple of pints at teatime after work, or a couple at last orders, or just a skinful every night. And then there's the massively different demographics of our urban areas these days to consider. I am amazed at how some pubs are managing to stay open - you drive past them and they always seem to have about 2 people in, even on a Friday night. I'm not so sure I'd agreed that pubs in smaller towns/villages are faring much better - they seem to be struggling as well, unless they've started serving food and become more of a restaurant. Food is definately the key i think YD some of your locals are grafting their nads off to stay open - butnot much profit now in 'wet sales' alone KEEP THE THE GREAT BRITISH PUB OPEN!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldhamSheridan Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Food is definately the key i think YD, some of your locals are grafting their nads off to stay open - but not much profit now in 'wet sales' alone KEEP THE THE GREAT BRITISH PUB OPEN!! I think the problem is that the main pub as one currently, is splitting into two. You can go and get aled up in a place serving 100's of people cheap drink, due to it being near it's use by date (like Walkabout, Whetherspoons, and so on). Or you can go to pubs which are serving nice drink. These are generally real ale pubs, which have shown a growth in the recession. Anything in between is dying on it's feet (with the odd expection here and there - but even in those there are generally mitigating circumstances). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeslover Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Price really is a large part of it I think. My old man assures me it was as cheap back in the day to have a drink out as it was to have one indoors, now it's 3-4 times the price. Whilst the evil health profession and the politicians are making out that sniffing a barman's apron makes you murder your gran and then fall over dead it's not likely to change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitch_KTF Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 If I remember correctly, the two biggest pub companies (Punch Taverns and Enterprise Inns) are over £1B in debt. They bought up :censored: loads of pubs on borrowed money and then property values slumped. Pubs are closing left right and centre, and for a host of reasons (a chapter of my dissertation a few months back was on this). My Grandad has just given up his Oldham pub after years. It used to be heaving, your typical working class boozer, but it's been dead since the smoking ban in his opinion. It seems the 'posher' pubs are faring better than others, mainly due to serving food, and having clientele who can afford the beer at the moment!! Also relevant is the fact that the younger generation today tend to prefer 'trendy' bars.......or even cheaper (and arguably less harmful) drugs altogether, such as ecstasy. The amount of students to be seen turning up at the likes of Sankeys and Warehouse Project (and even less typical venues) with 2/3 E's and a packet of Golden Virginia is significant, and heart warming. Not an aggressive :censored: in sight..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankly Mr Shankly Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 - Smoking ban - Cheap booze deals in Supermarkets - More entertainment at home these days Look no further. Pubs that thrive these days are usually well located, run well and offer more than a grotty room and about 3 different types of beer and no entertainment other than the odd drunk getting put on his arse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorrro Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 How's the Hark to Topper doing these days? I spent many a good Saturday afternoon in there, playing cards and drinking as much Alpine as possible on my split shift... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny punkster Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 high prices being charged to the customer because the breweries are forcing the landlord to accept small profit margins(whilst expecting to be competitive) and pay higher rents each year to said breweries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futchers briefs Posted October 13, 2009 Author Share Posted October 13, 2009 How's the Hark to Topper doing these days? I spent many a good Saturday afternoon in there, playing cards and drinking as much Alpine as possible on my split shift... if i can remember from the last time i was up there enjoying a shandy, i'm sure hark was still open, going strong, serving it's renowned head popping ales and possibly 1 of the cheapest boozers in oldham. A pub definately for the grown ups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorrro Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 The Hark and The Ashton... top notch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futchers briefs Posted October 13, 2009 Author Share Posted October 13, 2009 The Hark and The Ashton... top notch. The Ashy still has the open fire as well....i think they still do some real ales also.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikejh45 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Those small to medium breweries that still employ managers, such as Robinsons, Hydes, Holts and (typed with gritted teeth) Lees are still doing well. The non-brewing pub chains such as Punch and Pubmaster who make there profits by charging ridiculous rents and then screw the tenant into the ground with their mark up on bought in beer are, as stated before, struggling. Going back a few years when Boddies employed managers, my local was the Front House in Springhead, which always had a good crowd in every evening but that all changed once tenants took over. I called in about a month ago, expecting to see some old cronies. I was on my own, Billy no-mates. suffering a pint of John Smiths crappy smooth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 (edited) How's the Hark to Topper doing these days? I spent many a good Saturday afternoon in there, playing cards and drinking as much Alpine as possible on my split shift... Went in a few weeks ago during the day in the week. Place was pretty quiet, just a little crowd in the tap room mainly consisting of pensioners and a geezer who must have been about 90 but was still sharp as a knife, joining in with the banter. Also went in about 9pm one Friday a few weeks ago and the place was dead really. Surprising really...I'd have thought in these tough times everyone would be wanting to get on the Alpine at just 1.71. I'm not a regular, so I might have caught them on an off day, but the last two times I have been in the Alpine was not up to the standard served in my local... Edited October 13, 2009 by Yard Dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F.O.B. Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Went in a few weeks ago during the day in the week. Place was pretty quiet, just a little crowd in the tap room mainly consisting of pensioners and a geezer who must have been about 90 but was still sharp as a knife, joining in with the banter. Also went in about 9pm one Friday a few weeks ago and the place was dead really. Surprising really...I'd have thought in these tough times everyone would be wanting to get on the Alpine at just 1.71. I'm not a regular, so I might have caught them on an off day, but the last two times I have been in the Alpine was not up to the standard served in my local... When the Alpine was known as Ayingerbrau (sp) in there, we used to call it 'anging brew, 'cos it was effin awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 When the Alpine was known as Ayingerbrau (sp) in there, we used to call it 'anging brew, 'cos it was effin awful. Alpine/Ayingerbrau - only thing that's changed is the name. Nice tipple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 This link has some good publications listed under Pubs and Breweries. Some are available from the Oldham Local Interest Centre on Union Street. http://www.mlfhs.org.uk/Bookshop/richard.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I have read something somewhere, possibly on the internet, that at one time Oldham had more drinking establishments (licensed and unlicensed) per head than anywhere else in the country....has anyone else heard this ? I have also heard a similar claim about chippies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I have read something somewhere, possibly on the internet, that at one time Oldham had more drinking establishments (licensed and unlicensed) per head than anywhere else in the country....has anyone else heard this ? I have also heard a similar claim about chippies. In the late 1950s Oldham had 365 pubs, one for every day of the year. On Saturday nights, on the West Street site, where the Civic Centre is now, coaches from all over the North West used to park while their passengers enjoyed a good night out. There was live music in many of the pubs. Anyone remember Benny on the keys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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