When I was younger, so much younger than...

Shrews

...today.  I remember people used to socialise in a pub.

Ok, it doesn't rhyme like that old Beatles classic, but ffs!

I'm doing a mini tour of raceecourses in the south-west and as there was no racing today I decided to venture our for a few beers.

Sat in a pub in Torquay on my own, with just some woman behind the bar for company, I peered out the window, through the wind and howling rain, to the coffee shop opposite.

It was rammed packed! People sat outside in their coats and hats ffs! 

We've all gone soft in this country. From beer to coffee. Unbelievable. 

Some of my best life memories have been in the pub, not a fcking coffee shop. 

This is a rallying call, use it or lose it. Don't go to the coffee shop, go to the pub! Drink coffee there (if you must). Sit in the warm, not outside in the rain with your hat and coat on! 

Winny_Pooh

Was it 9am? Booze is bad for you even in moderation so it seems a positive change.

DrCornelius

I think in a coffee shop you talk to who you are with . In a good pub you join conversations around you and get to engage with loads more people - I agree that it’s important 

Bellycaster

If they were sat outside said Coffee Shop in howling Wind, they sound pretty hard-core to me.

Probably on Cappuccinos 

Watch out for those guys, they're the Coffee equivalent of Lager Louts.

Sassafras

Yes, I can't understand why you'd want to drink coffee when you could be talking to a load of piss-heads.

thecolourbox

I personally prefer coffee shops to pubs to be honest, albeit neither outside in the rain

S56035

DrCornelius said:

I think in a coffee shop you talk to who you are with . In a good pub you join conversations around you and get to engage with loads more people - I agree that it’s important 

A random stranger trying to talk to me is the last thing I want in a pub.

goldtop

Actually ... (says it quietly)... I always hated pubs. I wanted to enjoy them, because that's where friends liked to be, but I only went there to show willing. 

I think it's because there's always one person in your group who becomes a complete **** once they've had enough Old Peculiar. I'd rather be anywhere else at that point.

Mattharrier

goldtop said:

I think it's because there's always one person in your group who becomes a complete **** once they've had enough Old Peculiar. I'd rather be anywhere else at that point.

And if anyone reading this didn't have a friend like that, it was you! I'm fairly sure I was that friend, looking back...

I always liked "the pub", but there were some pubs that I liked going to - there were many more I didn't like. 

Now, though, or at least pre-Covid, the pub is somewhere to go for a nice meal, or occasionally for a mid-walk/ride/paddle pint. Making the effort to leave the house and go to the pub is less and less appealing as I get older!

VimFuego

I like the social aspect of the pub, sitting round talking to friends (yes I do have some!!!) and I don't like to drink caffeine too late in the day, so pubs in the darker hours are best for me, but I'd also happily meet up with my friends in a coffee place during the daylight hours.

Mattharrier

I'd rather (weather depending of course) get the barbecue going, get a fire going, and have a couple of beers in the garden to be honest.

Moe_Zambeek

I suspect a wet Wednesday in October…in Torquay…has never been peak pub time…

WiresDreamDisasters

Over this past nearly 2 years now, I've missed the pub quite a lot. Especially with workmates. Finishing a day at the office, quick bit of arcade machinery, pop to the pub, burger and a few pints, some laughs, so on and so forth.

I like a good coffee shop too. In fact I'll quite happily cycle to the next burrough over to visit my favourite cafe, have a coffee and a natter with the owners, maybe an English breakfast. Can't beat it.

I don't like those trendy wine bars, and I don't particularly like Italian restaurants. Mainly coz of the food. It's usually plain Jane boring.

Philly_Q

I like pubs, but only if I'm there to have a meal.  Can't remember the last time I went to a pub just to stand around drinking, but whenever it was I probably didn't enjoy it.

I don't think I've ever been to a coffee shop as such.  Cafes, yes, occasionally.

I'm not very sociable at all really.

Dominic

I've got to say I find pubs to be smelly ,dingy places and quite depressing .They fall into different types like the cliquey posh country pub where you are persona non grata if you don't beat for the local shoot or follow the hunt . Or , spit and sawdust hardened boozers for lazy builders who try and escape there at 2pm on a friday rather than do a proper days work.
Then there are the cheap trendy pubs full of kids and noise, the overpriced beardy hipster pub serving some overpriced ,overhoppy Cardommom and Mango scented shit with a silly name and the cableknit cardigan Camra connoisseur real -ale pubs selling beers called 'Old Badger Fart ' or ' Smelly Nigel's Armpit Ale '.
Of them all ,I would choose the real ale pub but you can't drink very much of the stuff anyway .
  They are simply outdated compared to the Cafe Nero in the daytime market .
 Maybe just me but there seems to be something unwholesome and alki about going into a pub during the day as opposed to  evenings and Sunday lunchtimes 

darthed1981

goldtop said:

Actually ... (says it quietly)... I always hated pubs. I wanted to enjoy them, because that's where friends liked to be, but I only went there to show willing. 

I think it's because there's always one person in your group who becomes a complete **** once they've had enough Old Peculiar. I'd rather be anywhere else at that point.

Sadly will only let me click "Wisdom" once...

Plus the fact there always seems to be an extreme right or left wing consensus, nothing inbetween extremist bollocks.

Either the insulate Britain people should be run over, killed, revived, killed again and then made to pay for the fuel wasted while idling in our Audi Q7s, or we should all be sat in a field listening to fucking mumford and sons while trying to figure out what pronouns to use in our we hate America and Israel as well for some reason anti capitalism avocado protest.

WiresDreamDisasters

Avocado protest sounds like the precursor to a middle class dirty protest.

tone1

I’m not sure what shocks me the most....Drinking alone at 9am, or choosing Torquay as the place to do it in...

dano

@shrews so which pub where you in ?! 

Shrews

@dano ;

I was in the Cider Press. Not sure what the coffee place is opposite but not a Costa or Starbucks. 

LastMantra

It's "friends" all over again!