What are your thoughts on the future of pubs/restaurants etc?

[SexyGreyFox]

I've never mentioned this before on here but my main hobby for the last 52 years has been gigging with different bands in different venues
It's now come to the point that I think in a years time because of the cost of living and heating crisis I may have nowhere to play even if I offered my services for nothing.
Talking to 2 Landlords recently who said their electric/gas is £1000 a week and it could go up to £4000 which they won't be able to afford to stay open.
Me and the wife usually have a meal out, a takeaway and go watch a band once a week but come next year all that could stop because of the crisis, other usual punters will be in the same state so therefore most venues will be empty and have to close.

In my opinion it's looking bad for the leisure industry, I hope I'm wrong, I usually am.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Meta

Meta (from the Greek μετά, meta, meaning "after" or "beyond") is a prefix meaning "more comprehensive" or "transcending."

 

[SexyGreyFox]

The future is grim I'm from stoke aswell come January all if not most will close the doors for good

Look at Hanley how it is now compared to say 20 years ago where there was loads of night clubs/ pubs I reckon all shopping towns will be just like hanley

I run a large Facebook group and keep a list of gigs for everybody and I can honestly see most of these venues closing in the Stoke area -
https://bit.ly/3DEFah8

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I mean they don't even play music so they don't have to pay the PRS

My rock band did gig at the one in Hanley, Stoke 3 times mid week, it lasted around 9 months with different bands before it stopped.
This was somewhere between 2000 and 2008 so I don't know if it was an experiment.

Pre Covid I was in the Hanley one and a bloke walked in with an acoustic guitar and started playing.
Management ran over and told him to stop but he just said "I'm entertaining the people, don't be nasty"
At that point 'the people' turned round and told him to go (words to that effect) because they don't go in Wetherspoons to listen to music.
He came on my Facebook Group moaning about it and every musician and Landlord told him the same but he wouldn't have none.
I think it's great that a venue refuses to have music playing.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

The Tories have broken it, and when it comes to choosing who to fix it, you'll choose the Tories. Again.

All Parties all over the years have broke it, don't just pick on one set of .........
I'm 64 and never voted because I learned as a young man that anybody who got in buggered it up so what's the point.
They are all liars and always will be and adults keep falling for it because they think they have a say with a vote - pathetic
It's like having a choice between Fred West or Peter Sutcliffe, who is best out of a bad bunch.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

There is no logic to your statement because by your own admission it was functioning fine for the best part of 52 years.

I have never said it's been fine, it's always upset the working man/woman no matter who got in.
I used to listen to my family moaning about the Government and then when I was 16 listened to every adult male in the Michelin factory moaning about the Government, then onto a factory with 4,000 people constantly moaning about those in power.
it's never changed and still people think ticking a box makes a difference.
We need a new system.

Anyway, those are my 64 years of experience and you will never change how I feel about Politicians so it's pointless replying.
I like that Jonathan Ashworth bloke though, always gives a straight answer.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Well, you asked us what our thoughts were and I've replied in good faith. You've now told me it's pointless replying because you're not interested so fair enough, I'll leave it at that.

If your answer is that it's all the fault of a certain group of people in Parliament then no because I'm pretty sure you know that's a daft reply.
There's a war in Ukraine and everybody now wants their gas from the same place as us, I'm amazed you can blame our Government for that.
Of course all Governments could have ploughed money into our own energy decades ago.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Secondly, an energy crisis can literally only be solved by Government action - there's no other entity involved in the process that could implement the actions that are required to solve the problem.

I'll bite, how can any Government right now solve the problem of countries providing us fuel for less?