London pubs

it isn't in the power of the mayor to determine the popularity of pubs.

reintroduce smoking and there will be a doubling of pub usage

They are becoming expensive, rare and due to Labour law discriminate smokers (Most owners try and accomodate smokers).

A huge part of the problem is sin taxation.  The notion that society's ills can all be fixed if we just make alcohol so expensive that only the Bullingdon Club can regularly drink.  It hasn't worked, it'll never work, it's insulting and infantilising.  All it has accomplished is the destruction of social spaces.  

No minimum prices, no tax above VAT. 

we tend to  use the pub for leaving  do's but they  do  need to  improve their offer by  increasing the type food and entertainment available. they are stil perceived as male premises with tv sport  dominating. they  also  need to  improve the low/no  alcohol offer for peopel who  do  not wish  to  drink  alcohol. However we do  need to  keep  our pubs as they  can  be used to  provide a community  resource. 

I'd like to see more pubs that are children friendly. I appreciate not all pubs could be, I support a variety of pubs in all locations so one can find the right venue for themselves.

Innovative design could encourage wider range of uses and users. A diverse community needs diverse community facilities .

It seems to me that some pubs go under because they reckon they can serve sub standard beer, and nothing else, in a tired and grubby environment and expect to still attract customers. Maybe pub managers could benefit from business training to develop their pubs and save themselves from closure?

Pubs are essential to communities as they are those vital ' third spaces ' that are not where we live or work. 

In 2016 l bought and renovated a pub in Earlsfield. It was ultimately to ensure the building didn't fall into developers hands as Enterprise Inns wanted this to happen. I invested a lot of time and money into this project and carried out an action research MSc in Sustainability on community led regeneration. I did my dissertation on the pub as a third space. Sadiq Khan officially opened the pub for me. I used the space along an impact pub model where I hosted community groups, art exhibitions, plays etc. Basically everything that a pub could do to support the community. 

The business was hit by the perfect storm of the Brexit vote and the continued death of the the high street. Also the tiied pub co model deployed by my rapacious landlord is what is ultimately killing pubs. The ownership model is totally broken. 

Pub companies simply squeeze their tenants as hard as they can 

The changing habits of younger people means they do not meet in pubs. What would you when you can meet on line and buy a litre of vodka in Tesco for £ 10.

Finding reliable staff is another huge issue. The long hours that publicians work have huge impacts on their personal lives. So pubs are almost vocational lives. 

The future of pubs is to use them as day time co working spaces and at night as pubs. They can survive if they are put in Community ownership. 

The pub companies know the game is up for most non city centre pubs. This means as assets they will become cheaper and cheaper. Communities can then bid for these building as community Led Housing projects retaining the pubs for the benefit of their community. I'm more than happy to contribute to any steering group to discuss this. I now work for www.communityledhousing.london. I'm Irish so I love pubs. 

I used to visit pubs on a regular basis as a way to relax and socialise on my days off, due to the smoking ban I now only visit a pub once or twice a year. Why can't pubs with several rooms have a smoking area away from the bar staff and people who don't like the smoke and not out in the cold in winter. Many people I know stopped going out due to the complete ban.

Closing of pubs is a result of the badly managed pub tanancy approach of the larger groups like Enterprise Inns etc/ I hthink the smaller estates (Fuller Turner, Youngs etc)  have benefitted from the reduction and are better psotioned to survive.The vast improvement of pubs (food, facilities etc) is a reflection of the need to change and be more competitiive.

I usually only have one pint only when I drop into my local while out walking my dog to meet friends (not every day of the week!) or on way home form work. With another group of friends we meet once a week and limit ourselves to two hours maximum. I am retired and working casually - I think the old days of nights out in the pub have been overtaken for many people by social mores, health and other interests competing.

I don't tend to go to a pubs for a "night out".  They tend to be part of a social occasion or perhaps incorporating a meal or live music.  However. the occasional drink in the afternoon or early evening can be enjoyable and it does make me sad tht so many have closed as for many people they are very social/community places.  A lunchtime drink in the summer in a pub is an enjoyabl experience. 

I don't generally go to pubs as much as I used to do and alas, there aren't any within walking distance of home anymore.  There used to be 2 or 3.

Not much choice these days as many pubs in my local area have closed.

I only visit them for special occassion meals,or quizes. I find them expensive and far too noisy.

Pubs need to lower their prices.  It’s ridiculous the price of drinks in and around London.

no wonder pubs are closing down.

more beer they sell, the lower price they pay for the beer.  Then pass the savings on.

Almost never go to a pub or bar near me (outer London). If I do its central London and to meet up with friends I have not seen for a while. Its not usually an enjoyable experience however due to the noise of the music and chatter, the queues at the bar and usually being served out of turn. And of course the price of drinks. I and my friends have had coats, bags etc stolen from pubs/bars so thats another disincentive to patronise them.

I would say whatever your age or ethnicity just try your local pubs and find the one that works for you and your friends. Some are quiet some are loud. Some are big some are small. Some have sport on TV some have music. Some have a wide range of food some less so. Some are expensive and some are cheap. All sell alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Nearly all are welcoming and all would benefit for a greater diversity of clientele.

I think alcohol in moderation is good for you,it helps to make you relaxed after a hard days work.I like to socialize two are three times per week with friends and family.

Really sad and disappointing to see pubs close. I don't go often because of cost but like to go for good food! I've noticed that the pubs that do well are the ones that serve great food - that's the thing that keeps people coming back. Also, what may put people off is the cost - I don't drink alcohol but even non alcoholic drinks aren't cheap and it all adds up.

Too many heritage pubs have fallen into property developers hands to stand empty while the buildings deteriorate..the black cap( in camden high  street )  saga is a shambles !! For how many years has this original historical pub been closed ..no where in the eu ,is a hostelry so undervalued..best thing ever to raise the standards and inclusivity of pubs over here from the embarrassments of my youth in the 70's. 

I think pubs are important for many reasons. For example
1. They're one of the great British traditions - a good fun place to start the evening and restore liquid levels after a busy day
2. They're a great meeting place in the community of people of all social and economic backgrounds. Also to meet people for the first time
3. They're a great 'start place' if you're visiting a new town or for overseas people visiting the UK
4. The modernisation of pubs in terms of decor and offering provides amenity value for all sexes and persuasions. No longer a 'male preserve' but a place equally women can go to to enjoy the company of their friends. Good to see
5. Great place to go if your need to find out about something or people or what's going on e.g. after you've been away
6. Impressed by planner reluctance to allow pub premises to become something else. Closure of a pub represents a real loss of their particular offering to the community