Sometimes the posh people have to go into the other bar if they want to find out from the mechanic how long their car’s going to take or see if the local handyman’s got time to fix a fence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGBTrCZObyA

I think the whole pub’s about to go bust though because no one’s really drinking now, posh or not.

Pete — glad you like the post. Here’s another through on class, from Boak’s brainy (middle class) dad: working class people get fewer chances to fuck up in life than middle class people. Upper class people can do more-or-less what they like without consequence.

Stephen — hello! “Local pubs not giving them anything they can’t get at home” sums it up nicely.

Again, as Pete notes, pubs are businesses and I believe should be operated as such, rather than as de facto community institutions that possess some sort of god- or council-given right to exist. Give people something they can’t get elsewhere, whether a great pint of ale or live music or simply a place larger than their living room in which they can socialise with friends, and they will come. Operate like you’re doing your customers a favour and you’ll soon be whining about the lack of business.

I’ve been banging on for a while on the theme that pubs are businesses with no divine right to stay open, and those that operate as a business – understanding the needs of their clientele and catering to them, keeping high standards in what they do (whether that’s food, great real ale or a DJ who knows what he’s doing) will thrive. Those who think someone owes them a living will go to the wall.

The class thing is very interesting – in a recent survey 57% of people described themselves as working class, whereas if you take it by the ABC1C1DE demographic classification system about 60% of us are now ‘officially’ middle class. There’s a difference between having to work hard to make ends meet and being ‘working class’. But what is it?

I am now a North London media ponce, but my dad worked in a carpet factory and my mum was a cleaner. And I grew up in Barnsley for God’s sake. I think the point at which I stopped being working class was the point at which I stopped adding up the cost of my groceries as I went round the supermarket, so I think the original post and most comments are bang on. A lot of it is about not having to worry about every penny, knowing that you might be skint, but having the confidence that if you stick it on a credit card you’ll be able to pay it down next month. But many pubs are clearly losing the plot. Recently, a pint of lager and a glass of white wine for the lady broke the £10 barrier for me in a pub. I can afford it, but I’m offended by being ripped off on principle and haven’t been back since.

I think the points your parents made are excellent and you should send them to the Publican and Morning Advertiser and make pub landlords and PubCos see the truth.

‘… it was very unusual in the 1970s to have beer or spirits in the house except at Christmas. Big car trips to the supermarket must have made a difference there — why not pick up a few bottles for the fridge while you’re there?’ – Absolutely right.

My Mum also said last night that it was very unusual in the 1970s to have beer or spirits in the house except at Christmas. Big car trips to the supermarket must have made a difference there — why not pick up a few bottles for the fridge while you’re there?