Town Centre Pubs

lettie · 10-07-2004, 11:25

With all the Observer coverage of our dwindling town centre pub trade and the letters about the reasons why. Grego and I decided to hit the town last night and check it out..... Purely in the name of research of course.

What a quiet night, I definately think that the letters to the paper about prices are spot on. Here's some of the prices for half a dry cider and half a lager:- Regency £2.50, Baileys £2.55, Warners £2.25.

There was a band K Klass playing in the Bridge. The doorman was stood with a bucket that you could donate money into before entering the pub (supposedly for charity) He was telling everyone about this 'top quality' act playing tonight. K Klass were a 90's group and are definately Z list. The majority of people out last night were our age and not really into the acid house era. Deciding that we didn't want our eardrums bursting with the drivel that the DJ's were playing in all the pubs except the Warners which doesn't have a DJ we decided to sack the town and went for a hot afterburner curry at the Mitali which we did enjoy.

I have no sympathy for the landlords of our town centre pubs. Their over inflated prices and lack of imaginative entertainment leaves little to be desired in the town centre. Some of the local pubs have good entertainment, usually local talent, more reasonable prices, better ale and a much nicer atmosphere...

Doug · 10-07-2004, 13:59

What's “our age” exactly, on what standards did you assess the town centre pubs. And finally why didn’t we get an invite

lettie · 10-07-2004, 15:04

'Our age' is mid 30's and mine can be viewed in my profile..

The standards are explained in the post, prices, terrible music and atmosphere. Sorry about not inviting you but it was girls night..

Doug · 10-07-2004, 15:34

Thanks lettie, How do you know I'm not a girl then.....

WINGY · 10-07-2004, 16:13

Mid to late 30's Lettie!! Come on!!

Doug · 10-07-2004, 16:18

I didn't start this..........Hahaha

lettie · 10-07-2004, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by WINGY

Mid to late 30's Lettie!! Come on!!

Oooh Wingy, Grego will be having words with you at the meet up, she's only 33.....

WINGY · 10-07-2004, 16:41

I meant YOU lettie

ellie · 10-07-2004, 17:09

I went down accy last saturday and the majority of people were under 18. Theres nothing worse than trying to have a good old girlie night when its packed with 16 year olds. The music was trash except voodoo and lardies and the drink seem more expensive every time i go out.

Sparkologist · 10-07-2004, 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by WINGY

Mid to late 30's Lettie!! Come on!!

Hang on a mo'. I'm the same age, and it is definitely mid-thirties, not middle aged! You sh*t-stirring sproglet. You whipper-snapper, you

WINGY · 10-07-2004, 17:49

Who??? me????? never!!!

Sparkologist · 10-07-2004, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by WINGY

Who??? me????? never!!!

Oh, ...'kin 'ell, aye!

Len · 10-07-2004, 18:42

A good few years ago we used to go down Blackburn at about 8 o clock ish.
We would start at the bottom of town and work our way up into the centre. Even at that time it was usually quite busy, I think everyone else did the same as us.
These days some of the pubs have late licences and because of, they increase their prices to pay the staff. The only trouble now is that folk don’t go down town early anymore because its to expensive they would sooner stay in their own town have a few beers then go into Blackburn or Accrington for the last couple of hours. Which I suppose is good for the small town pubs because they now get that extra bit of weekend trade by selling ale at more affordable prices. It just means that if you fancy a good night out in Accrington or Blackburn you are really wasting your time and money because there is hardly anybody out. I think most people like our selves want to be out amongst everyone else for the good atmosphere for the quite nights out we stay in our local pubs.
Surely if all the pubs where to lower their prices to what they should be then the town would get busy again its like they are robbing the few that go into town to make up for the rest that don’t. By lowering their prises they would attract people back sell more beer and still make a good profit by the amount of beer they sell during that longer night of trading.

Sparkologist · 10-07-2004, 19:07

Well said Len. You can step down off your soapbox now, hehehe.

That is why I believe Accrington town centre would be better off with a Weatherspoons, if only to give these rip-off merchants competition for their trade.
A few years ago, when the toy shop on Church St. closed, it became known that Weatherspoons had applied for a drinks liscence for the premises, and all the local liscencees complained to the magistrates court to get the application thrown out. The reason being that it was considered there were enough liscensed premises in the area. Twelve months later, Baileys was up and running in the very same building and no complaints. Could it be that they were unapposed because they weren't going to undercut the prices of the Bridge, Arcade Bar, Regency & Warners etc?

lettie · 10-07-2004, 19:29

I think that Baileys is the most expensive pub and the music amounts to tuneless drivel. To top that, we used to drink bottles in there because the glasses always smelt funny. Me being as tight as a gnat's chuff decided to put up with the smelly glasses (which I'm sure are deliberate to make people buy bottles)

When we had our meet up in King Street it looked quite popular in there, the beer is cheaper and they also have decent bands on from time to time.. I might start frequenting King St more often..