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News
Pubs increasingly important in British lives
New research by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has highlighted how important British pubs are in people’s lives as they are increasingly used for social events.
The research revealed that pubs are increasingly used for wedding receptions, anniversaries and wetting a baby’s head and that nearly half of those questioned had attend a wake, or had a date in a pub.
Camra has welcomed the news that pubs are an important part of UK life, but has announced it is launching a campaign urging people to attend more events in pubs to help keep them open.
The organisation’s third national pub campaign of the year, ‘Pubs in Our Lives’, will run throughout October. The objective of the campaign is to highlight how often people use pubs for special events throughout their lives and ask the question “Where would we be without the local?”
Chief executive Mike Benner said: “This new research shows how many communities rely on the pub to celebrate important landmarks in our lives from wetting the baby’s head to toasting someone’s life.
“With more local facilities like community halls closing, the British pub is for many the only facility the community can use.
“The new research does throw open the question – where would we be celebrating special occasions or meeting our future loved ones without the local pub?”
The survey of 1,000 people came up with the following findings:
75% have celebrated a friend / family birthday
48% have celebrated a life at a wake
48% have had a date
42% have attended a wedding anniversary
36% have ‘wet the baby’s head’
20% have met their current partner.
Benner added: “Almost 4 in 10 pub-goers highlighted in the new research that they are visiting the pub less often that they did just 12 months ago. This is worrying and as a staggering 26 pubs are still closing every week it is important we use our pubs more regularly and not only for these special occasions. The British pub needs the British public’s support throughout the year otherwise community life will diminish in many parts of the country.”