Sham 69, never my favourite group especially when they did the dire ‘if the kids are united’. Of course the next line to the one in the title is: ‘we’re goin’ darn the pab’ (trans. ‘we are going to the pub’).
I heard on the radio yesterday that pubs are suffering. They have been hit with the triple whammy of rising costs (minimum wage and energy), budget increases on beer and wine and the smoking in the workplace ban. And they are reeling, even the big boys are feeling the pinch.
I am quite a fan of pubs, I don’t go to them enough. Right from the tender age of 15 or whenever I snuck my firat half of bitter in the Flying Dutchman on Hillgate through to taking Katy to the Church Inn in Cheadle Hulme for her 18th birthday ‘first legal pint’ (Robbies – she nearly finished it), I have been a regular and most willing attender of these fine hostelries, the length and breadth of England.
I think more people should support the pub. I think they should let under-age drinkers try to sneak a few pints under reporoachful but indulgent eye of the landlord who, with the help of years of pub etiquette, will keep them in good order until they have had enough and are sent home. How much better for everyone than having them get totally wasted on strong, cheap cider in the park before venting there juvenile frustrations (or trying to keep warm…) by beating up an innocent passer-by?
Perhaps the churches are missing a trick here as well. Their buildings are falling down so why not just decamp to their nearest pub? There’ll be no shortage of lost souls to save, if that is their bag, it will be warm and friendly and attenders can have a drink at the same time. It would provide a boost for the flagging boozers and some booze for the flagging congregations.
So forget cafe church, we are not French and a cafe is where you get a fry up not a hymn sandwich.
Walk out of ‘God’s House’ and into ‘God’s Public House’, it’s the future and you heard it here first.
