As you can well imagine with the work that I do, I get to visit a lot of pubs. Sadly, I also get to see a lot of pubs close, or worse, disappear altogether. For me, pubs are an important part of our history and I’ll go into that more shortly. What I really want to focus on today is the importance of these venues, particularly out in the country, but certainly not just limited to there.
A pub is a place of social interaction, something that we humans need – well most of us anyway. Out in rural areas, a lot of the working day consists of solitary labour. Sometimes there is not another soul around for miles. You might have a radio to keep you company and a faithful dog if you’re lucky, but for most of your time you are on your Pat Malone.
So, when your day is done you can dust yourself off and head to the local. At the pub you’ll catch up with other folks who’ve been toiling away in the elements. Folks might say a lot or say very little, but I assure you questions would be asked if you weren’t there. It was a place where you could check in with the community and then keep on keepin’ on.
Unfortunately, over the years more and more of these places of social connect have slowly disappeared. It saddens me to see an old pub abandoned and usually at the end of her life. You entertain the idea of stepping up and giving it a go yourself but for one reason or another it’s not for you. Maybe one day – who knows?
Things that can, and do, cause the bottom line to take a hit are as varied as you dare imagine. The first thing I remember, historically speaking was .05! Imagine how much that changed the scenery. Remember when you could go to the pub and get a counter meal and a coldie for lunch and then go back to work.Stop in on the way home from work for a few and then drive home for dinner. I certainly understand why these changes had to take place, but my point is, how much it affected the pubs.
Now it’s the “tax man”. With the cost of a schooner of beer around $11.00 to cover the increases, he’s going to see to it that we all start drinking at home, alone in front of the TV and opting for takeaway instead - once again jeopardising the social aspect of your local venue.
To stay afloat, a lot of pubs these days have become more like restaurants, with the kitchen being the main source of revenue. So now you have the challenges that go with running a restaurant AND a pub. You might need a chef instead of a cook and the list goes on.
Your local holds the memories of yesteryear and the stories shared within the wall of these places hold a special place in the hearts of so many people. Memories made there, first dates, first meetings and many celebrations. Pubs, in days gone by, have served as morgues, churches and stopping posts for mail etc. How many pubs were on the famous Cobb & Co route and then on the train line?
How many pubs mysteriously burned down over the years? How about the flood effected pubs? You could take the tinny out and get a slab from the top floor and still get a smile from the publican!
Pubs are quite often said to be haunted and, whether you believe in ghosts or not, it usually means that there’s an interesting story attached to it (unless the publican was making it up to get a few people through the door – still, nothing wrong with a little enterprise).
I believe your local is just that – it’s yours to treasure for reasons perhaps known only to you. To me, they are places of untold history, romance, murder and mystery, and shelter from the rain or summer sun.
But, more importantly, they are a place to be social and though I hate to say it, I fear that as cost of living rises, these venues will face tougher challenges yet. I know a lot of publicans and I take my hat off to you because your job is as challenging as it is important.
To you the reader Please take the time to explore, if you don’t already and instead of a Big Mac or a greasy chicken, seek out the local pub and grab a feed. I find most pub food these days to be to a high standard and you won’t have to put the burger together yourself after it’s delivered!
Soak up the atmosphere and maybe learn a bit about the history of the place because by doing so, you’re actually helping to support the hub of the community. A lot of my friends on two wheels do this already and I must say, the community of weekend motorcyclists is almost as important as the pubs themselves; but that’s a story for another time.
Comentários