Pubs’ roles in tackling loneliness
When The Queen Victoria pub exploded during Eastenders’ 40th Anniversary recently its dire situation mirrored the wider difficulties faced by pubs across the nation. In England and Wales last year six pubs shut for good each week, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).
The future looks increasingly bleak with the forthcoming effects of the budget expected to lead to further closures and job losses. The Adam Smith Institute in its ‘Last Orders Report’ is forecasting that as many as 9,000 pubs are at risk from calling last orders for the final time.
Night time economy advisor Sacha Lord has suggested the UK is now at risk of an “epidemic of chronic loneliness” if more is not done to save the local pub. Writing in the Daily Express he says: “For thousands of elderly and isolated individuals, their local is a vital source of companionship and community.”
A decade back it was the elderly who were the greatest sufferers of loneliness but by 2023 this had dramatically shifted to the young. Of people in their twenties only 5% felt lonely back in 2023 whereas today this has jumped to 13%. This is a level way above every other age group, according to data from the European Social Survey, and it puts this British grouping as the loneliest in Europe.
Taking more pubs out of the social equation is undoubtedly damaging, especially for the younger cohort who have gradually lost the connection with the pub that previous generations have enjoyed. It has been used as a primary point of contact where people naturally congregate. We all know that’s why we have The Queen Vic, The Rovers Return and The Woolpack at the heart of the soaps.
Alcohol plays its part of course and we are now much more aware of the damage that it can inflict. But the idea of a pint or glass of wine for many people generates positive images especially when it is aligned with the pub and the prospect of meeting friends. For the vast majority of people this is seen as a good thing – positively contributing to their wellbeing.
Against this backdrop it is a shame that alcohol has been almost subsumed by a negative narrative in the media – where it is portrayed as ultimately bad for health and wellbeing. This has undoubtedly had an eroding impact on the value of the pub. When combined with the ongoing pressures placed upon pubs by the likes of business rates, duty, and national insurance contributions (NIC) changes etcetera it is a very dangerous cocktail.
The effects of a visit to the pub – to drink alcohol or not – is for the bulk of the population positive for mental health and is life-affirming. This has been recognised by Dave Scholes, founder of the charity, Six Connections, who aims to break the stigma and silence over mental health by starting sensitive conversations early and he sees the pub as a prime territory for getting people together and talking.
When I bumped into him at a conference in Manchester recently he told me: “Our approach is, if we can normalise these conversations amongst all the other chat we have during the good times, then these tougher conversations will be more accessible. It’s very much the old school community pub approach. My village pub was the model for the idea really. It’s the sense of community and support even at the most basic level that I feel is something the pub brings positively into a mental health space.”
To promote his cause he brewed a beer with Moorhouse’s Brewery in Burnley called Ask Twice that was part of the JD Wetherspoon beer festival last year, with bottles, pump-clips and drip mats all including a QR code linking to a support page.
The pub as a conduit for helping with mental health has also been recognised by Portobello Pub Company that has just transformed its Westow House Pub & Hotel in Crystal Palace into The Brothers’ Arms. For two weeks the pub is hosting special events and talks related to men’s health with the underlying remit to “provide a welcoming space for all attendees – not just men”.
Musician Sam Fender has been open about his mental health challenges and his songs are peppered with references. He recognises the value of the pub and the role it plays in people finding community. In an interview in The Sunday Times last week, he asked: “You just need a good local, don’t you?” Yes, I definitely think so and I hope increasing numbers of people come to this same conclusion. In addition there is an opportunity here for pubs to go some way towards reframing the narrative in their favour during these tough times for all.
Glynn Davis, editor of Beer Insider
This piece was originally published on Propel Info where Glynn Davis writes a regular Friday opinion piece. Beer Insider would like to thank Propel for allowing the reproduction of this column.