Pubs part 2

Following swiftly on from the Thai Food issue, my next problem with pubs is thus:

I was in Amsterdam recently for a trip away with some mates. One of the things that really stood out for me was the how different each bar, cafe and coffee shop was. Each had their own style, music and atmosphere. The owners and staff were all friendly and helpful and you could tell that they really bought into the place that they worked.

Contrast that with London, and England as a whole, and you'll find that the majority of what we can offer are bland homogenised chain pubs. They generally have the same sticky carpet, worn seats and staff with a glazed look on their face. There are some notable exceptions, the Queen's Larder in Holborn and the Red Lion in Yorkshire, but by and large it's the same cheap prices and poor quality offering across the board.

Of course, there are times that I've been to these places and had a great time, mainly as a student. But now when I see the places I think that I'd rather just go home. Or (and I'm writing this as quietly as possible) go for a coffee instead. Actually scrap that last idea, that's ridiculous. If you glance into a wetherspoons or such like you'll see 2 types of people.

1. Students.
2. Pensioners

As the majority of the population sits within the 2, I don't think it's a big demand to want a nice pub serving varied beers at a reasonable price. I don't want to stand next to a drunk 70 year old who has clearly used his trousers as his toilet all day, or share a table with loud students spouting their opinions with no understanding of what the issues are or how little other people care about their views.

I'd like the decor to match the area or owner's personality. Food is covered in this link but in short it should not be Thai. I expect I'll have a little rant about gastro pubs one day, however, any pub that serves a burger but has no ketchup should be banned. 32 Great Queen Street I mean you!

So, in short, independent pubs are good. Chain pubs are bad. Phew I feel more relaxed now.