In recent years the one true catholic and apostolic beer consumers' organisation has seen fit to reward the faithful with discount and free beer vouchers.
Though I'm no longer a regular 'Spoons drinker I've recently been able to make good use the money off vouchers, in the spirit of mutual aid sharing them amongst my friends until a fiver's worth was gone. OK, it's only part of a pint free but it still brought joy to the world, and free pint vouchers appear occasionally online which bring even more joy.
Yet I've noticed some of my fellow beer nerds thoroughly disapprove of CAMRA beer vouchers, preferring to stick to moving money from their wallet to someone else's each time they get a pint. Can't say I understand it myself but I have to admire their dedication.
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ReplyDeleteI know one beardy chairman that chucks his on principle. WTF? There's some odd people in the world. You don't even need to go to the spoons regularly. They don't insist on 1 per visit & you can share them with mates to get them used. 50p is better off in your own pocket.
ReplyDeleteNever used one. Our local (well, nearest) spoons is shit. I wouldn't cross the road to go into it. That said, I suspect it's closed more pubs than the smoking ban and shipyard layoffs combined, so I guess they're doing what the market wants.
ReplyDeleteThen again, Spoons has probably opened more pubs than it's closed. And it has several good ones for every shite one - I've been into a couple of shite Spoons in the past, but the four closest to where I live are all fine. They're not cozy locals, but they're comfy enough and the beer is usually top-hole.
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DeleteOK, try again: What, seriously? Given that competition from spoons isn't the only problem facing smaller outlets, and given the generally shrinking on-trade, and that spoons tend to be large, while accepting that spoons may be more "efficient", how can they not have contributed to an overall reduction in pub numbers? As you point out - "cozy locals" (or even shit locals) are what we stand to lose when we switch to spoons. In fairness, spoons do pass on, to the drinker, the big discounts that they can negotiate. And while they're screwing some of their suppliers quite hard, they're said to be not quite so hard on the smaller producer. All that said, I can well understand why some pub fans might choose to avoid them. I've certainly never come across one that's as good a place to waste time as an actual pub.
Delete"Given that competition from spoons isn't the only problem facing smaller outlets, and given the generally shrinking on-trade, and that spoons tend to be large, while accepting that spoons may be more "efficient", how can they not have contributed to an overall reduction in pub numbers?"
ReplyDeleteMaybe because they attract customers who otherwise wouldn't go to a pub.
Yes, that would do it. That'll be why they target these promotions at CAMRA members.
DeleteSo without Spoons the decline in the on-trade would have been even worse? You may have a point.
DeleteWhat we see with the spoons is, I'd suggest, reminiscent of what we see with the supermarket. Their discounted, diverse, offering impacts the profitability of a range of competing outlets - not just pubs, but local caffs, sit down chippies, etc. Just as the supermarkets have hit butchers, bakers, pharmacies, photo-processors and whatnot.
DeleteI'd be surprised if people were drinking more beer than they would have done - the ontrade decline arguably tracks reduced demand - but they are, for sure, many of them, drinking it in larger, less heterogenous boozers, and chowing down happy eater style. Just because those outlets have an offering that overlaps with (and out-competes) businesses other than the traditional boozer doesn't make it any more palatable to those who are bothered by such things.
Y. might well say that their model is a better match for the market than the old one was, but if your campaign is committed to "Protecting the Pub", joining in with spoons promotions makes as much sense as the 'campaign for little shops on the high street' giving out [insert name of supermarket chain] vouchers.
It makes the campaign look a bit foolish, and gives the impression that members are more concerned with member benefits than they are with actual campaigning.
'It makes the campaign look a bit foolish, and gives the impression that members are more concerned with member benefits than they are with actual campaigning.'
DeleteThink there's something in that. CAMRA has been struggling since about 1978 to work out exactly what they're campaigning for, and fighting on multiple fronts. If it's 'real ale' and only 'real ale', then supporting Spoons makes sense; if it's about traditional pubs, they ought to be leading protests every time a new JDW opens in a small town.
I think CAMRA would look even more foolish if they were campaigning against 'Spoons.
DeleteI read an interesting view on 'Spoons in the Morning Ad the other day. It said if you talked in terms of pub square footage, not pub number then for eight normal pubs can close for every 'Spoons that opens and you still have the same area of pub space.
ReplyDeleteMind you, it didn't mention that you'll have lost about 99% of the atmosphere.
I wonder what that means for local employment / economy / consumer choice?
Delete'Orrible thing competition, eh? Who do these people think they are opening up new establishments and offering punters better value in a market where punters are free to choose.
ReplyDeleteDon't they realize they will shut down all those establishments offering poor value?