Pubs are heart of local communities
PUBS are one of the few remaining places we can meet people in a relaxed, social environment outside of the home.
With community centres up and down the country closing, pubs offer a vital hub for locals to get together as a community. Pubs are also taking an active role in tackling loneliness - whether that’s running lunch groups, chatting to regulars or just providing a place for people to meet.
In addition, many community pubs in rural settings are now providing services lacking in the local area, such as post offices, village shops, cinema rooms and library - all going beyond just pouring pints!
Loneliness can affect anyone at anytime in their life, and many of us experienced serious loneliness during lockdowns and the pandemic. These experiences have opened up the national conversation around loneliness like never before.
Pubs have always been places of refuge, from ‘chatty table’ schemes to free Christmas
dinners, comedy evenings, quiz nights and more, there are fantastic stories around from the country. Many pubs put on live music events, from informal acoustic singarounds to local rock bands, so you can see great live music for the price of a pint.
Day to day, licensees and their staff provide stability and regular conversation for many who experience loneliness and social isolation. The ‘Friends on Tap’ report commissioned by CAMRA found that people feel generally more comfortable about strangers after a pint in their local.
We’ve all had a day brightened up by a spontaneous chat with a stranger, and whether you plan to catch up with an old friend or get to know someone new, there’s no better venue than your local pub or social club.
High streets across the UK are changing, with the pandemic accelerating the trend for services being moved online and social public spaces being lost.
This is why it’s more important than ever that we continue to campaign to protect, support and celebrate the local pub. No number of online chatrooms can replace face-to-face conversations, which are even better over a pint or two.
If you need support, please check out resources provided by the Campaign to End Loneliness or ask your GP what’s available in your local area. But never forget the community locals that may be on your doorstep.
The national CAMRA website is at: camra.org.uk. or your local CAMRA website covering Southport, Merseyside and Ormskirk, West Lancashire is at: southport.camra.org.uk.