Quote Originally Posted by 9goals2hattricks3pen View Post
The Harrogate reference was in direct response to al who started his reply with 'Lots of pubs closed around Harrogate' Feels like I had to drag out of him the comment 'Harrogate will always do well '

Agree the loss of these old pubs is a shame but it's not a recent phenomenon. Lots of examples just 1 close to your patch. As a kid in the 60's I remember us driving from West Brom to Kinver through Stourbridge and at the bottom of a hill there was a crossroads with a pub on each corner.

By the time I was driving in the 70's there was only 2 open

Probably by the 90's there were none. All had closed. Seem to remember one was an Indian restaurant.

So why now is it all over national and local news as bad news with no reporting of the positives. Where is the balance?

There's a classic situation in the nearest town to me. Right opposite the busy mainline station there's a traditional English pub been there for years. The decors grim, the menus stretches from scampi and chips to burger and chips, the bar staff disinterested, always looks quiet. I've never been in. Traditional opening times.

200 yards up the hill there's a bar probably 20 years old I regularly visit.Less than half the size of the pub. In the mornings they serve an excellent breakfast from full English to smashed avocado on toast. Plenty of commuters picking up their obligatory take away coffees before getting on the train .

Lunchtime there’s a menu to cater for the many office staff close by. Choices include a Falafel, sweet potato, guacamole, red pepper, and spinach wrap. You get the picture.

Early evening lots of commuters stop off for a quick one on the way home.

As they leave seating is changed more suited to a younger crowd.

Outside there is a terrace that can be either fully enclosed with heaters, totally open to the elements and all the configurations in between. Cost £30k.

At weekends they have live dj’s and stay open until 2am as do others close by.

And finally the looker that is the Lithuanian barmaid is worth the visit just to get served by her.

But as I’ve said to al the closing of pubs is very much secondary to the real point.

Why oh why do the media constantly feed us bad news and neglect the good news and why do we lap it up and regurgitate it as fact when there is often another side to the story?
I can’t disagree with your premise 923, your are correct on your side of the argument about the “bad news” vibe I guess, I just presume that when “pub closures” are in the news it’s that they’re commenting on the nett number of losses overall?

There will always have been pub closures, as hamlets became villages that became joined up into towns and social mobility increased then yes, naturally some will have closed.

My point was more based on the loss of what had been major and historic landmarks over my lifetime that have disappeared in a short space of time.