Will The Home Bar Kill The Pub

The Home bar or pub shed have gained popularity in recent years, especially since the beginning of 2020. Many of these home bars and pub sheds have real draught beer on tap, TV’s, dartboards, pool tables and even toilets. But will the home bar kill the pub?

Although many pubs have closed their doors in recent years, which of course is extremely sad. Especially as some of them are historical pubs. The rise of home bars and pub sheds is not the only reason many people do not visit a pub as much today. There are other factors at play which may be having an impact on the traditional pub.

So we can’t blame the home bar alone.

The Rise Of The Home Bar And Pub Shed

The home bar popularity has been steadily bubbling away for years. Many people have incorporated a bar in their home as far back as the 1940’s.

My own Grandparents had a bar in their lounge back in the late 60’s. So they are nothing new, however they may have gradually fallen out of fashion in the decades following.

But they are back, since we all got locked down in early 2020 the home bar and pub shed suddenly became the thing to have.

March 2020 saw the first lockdown and from that moment the interest in home bars started to rise. Peaking in May 2020 and again in summer of 2021.

Even though lockdown restrictions finished in July 2021 people are still creating bars in their homes. Many in their own self contained building in the form of pub sheds.

Between 2020 and 2022, basically the two year period affected by pandemic restriction, two thousand pubs closed in the UK.

Statistics according to the British Beer And Pub Association (BBPA).

Can this be down to home bars and pub sheds?

Will The Home Bar Kill The Pub

While the popularity in home bars and pub sheds might have an impact on pubs. I don’t think they are the sole reason for pubs being in decline.

In some ways they can compliment our pubs. People who have their own bars at home like to socialise with family and friends.

While this is nice, a pub provides a more distinct social and cultural experience. Pubs are in our DNA, they have been part of our society since day dot.

A pub is like a community hub where people come together to enjoy socialising, sports, live music and local events. You meet new people in pubs, you find out things about your local village or town.

While the home bar is a nice place to socialise with family and friends, it is not the same as the real pub experience.

Home bars are an ideal place to meet before going to the pub with friends. But they are not a replacement for the good old pub.

The Decline Of The Traditional Pub

It is true that the traditional pub is in decline. As I mentioned two thousand went between 2020 and 2022 which is a lot.

However since the year 2000 up to 2022 we have lost 15000 pubs in the UK (according to BBPA stats). Over that period we have lost on average between 400 and 1200 per year.

The biggest hit was between 2016 to 2017 when we lost 1950 pubs. This can’t be all the fault of home bars and pub sheds.

What Is Killing Our Pubs?

There are a number of factors to blame for the demise of the good old pub. People and habits change over the years, new trends change the way people behave.

The Rise Of The Coffee Shop

The rise of coffee shops has exploded over the last few decades, just visit your local high street. You might just find there are more of them than there are pubs.

They have become a big place to socialise, but they are only a day time place. Not any more, some are opening evenings and serving a limited amount of food and drinks. And when I say drinks, I mean beer, wine and spirits.

This is not mainstream yet, but if it works well then I am sure it will be rolled out across the big coffee shop chains.

Who Else Is After The Pub Trade?

Cafe’s and even fast food outlets are getting in on the action too. Acquiring licenses to sell alcohol, albeit on a limited scale.

Before you know it garden centres will be selling beer and wine, or maybe they do already.

Breweries are also in on the action too. Many craft breweries have opened taprooms at their premises where people can enjoy there beer fresh from the cask.

They hold events at these taprooms, live music and serve food too. Having said that, they are also responsible for opening pubs.

Many breweries have opened pubs on the high streets of the UK. So at least they are trying to help the decline of the British pub.

Another factor is the rising price of pretty much everything, but especially alcohol. The average price of a pint of beer in 2000 was £1.90 with the maximum being £2.30.

In 2022 the average price of price of a pint was £4.03 with the maximum being £6.00.

This is partly to do with the astronomical tax the government have put on beer and other alcohol. You can buy the equivalent for a quarter of the price in a supermarket. And it is even cheaper if you brew your own beer and wine.

Will The Pub Survive?

Looking at statistics there has been a steady decline in pubs over the years. It is not something that has started happening in only the last few years.

Home Bars and pub sheds while they may contribute to the decline, they are by no means solely responsible. More and more businesses that have not done in the past are now serving alcohol.

A small business local to me which started out selling coffee and baguettes now has beer on tap. It is happening everywhere and I don’t think this will change any time soon.

Will the pub Survive?

Yes I think it will, while we might lose more in the future, the traditional pub will always have a place in our society.

It’s part of the British culture and although we have changed our habits over the years. I can’t see our love of the pub disappearing altogether.

Long live the pub.

What do you think? Let me know what you think about the good old British pub by sharing your thoughts below.