Equality Street Posted March 19, 2012 Report Share Posted March 19, 2012 When shopping in Tesco or in my daily work I often meet people whom have no doubt been on the isles forever, but I've never actually laid eyes on.This got me to thinking - perhaps I never meet these folk because they exist in a completely different social circle from me - specifically they won't be found in a pub. Having grown up in Shetland, the allure of a drink was never far away and I've always considered it the norm to drink most weekends.Despite the obvious health risks and drain on the finances, I've always felt it was worth it... until recently when I started to ponder what i may be missing out on. Clearly not everyone has the same enthusiasm for the Demon Drink as I have, but lately I've been considering the possibility that my lifestyle may in fact be that of the minority and NOT the majority Shetlanders as I once thought, hence my little poll.... be honest now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArabiaTerra Posted March 19, 2012 Report Share Posted March 19, 2012 I used to be a party animal, in the pubs 2-3 times a week throughout the nineties. I pretty much gave that up after 2001 though. It just got boring. Now you'll see me out maybe 3 or 4 times a year, if that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shetlandpeat Posted March 19, 2012 Report Share Posted March 19, 2012 A life as a pub goer can be quite limited, as someone who managed bars in that there London, you could see the way it encapsulates folks. The drinkers there did go to other pubs, we also went to other pubs, there was quite a huge social circle, there were about 20 pubs in the pub watch scheme.There were those who were there the same time, the same drinks, the same lines. Some have seemed to have some sort of big problem in their life and it was the easy thing to do. When I am in Lerwick I am at the pub quite a number of times, it is something I do not do here, too busy with other things. Moving to a new area can be made easy by going to the local rubadub, you can often find out very quickly about other activities, it is also a good way to get work, I have got several short term jobs through pub goers. I wonder how a Temperance Bar would work in Lerwick, it was started, the Temperance movement, here in the North West of England. I have been involved in other things while visiting my Dad, and I am sure there will be other things as my interests change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EM Posted March 19, 2012 Report Share Posted March 19, 2012 I wonder how a Temperance Bar would work in Lerwick, it was started, the Temperance movement, here in the North West of England.Very popular and influential here at one time, but long gone now: http://shetlopedia.com/Independent_Order_of_Rechabites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shetlandpeat Posted March 19, 2012 Report Share Posted March 19, 2012 Interesting, the poll in 1949 showed a high level of votes for a dry Shetland though not enough to keep it dry, it may have been the start of the times my Granny would meet my Grandad at the docks on payday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyjim Posted March 19, 2012 Report Share Posted March 19, 2012 In the 80's and early 90's there was live music in all of the clubs and 50% of the pubs almost every night except Wednesday(don't know what was wrong with Wednesday.)Anyway there was something to go out for beside drink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.S Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 The government duties on booze now, and the mark-up in the pubs, just to stay in business, means that most folk are happy to sit in their own home, or someone else's, with a cheeky wee bottle of vino and Sky Movies/LoveFilm on the gogglebox. Sad maybe, but certainly true of almost everyone I know, these days. The pub and nights out are for "special" occasions only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessiep Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 I moved here about 10 years ago from Inverness. When I first moved I went out approx. twice a month for around 6 months, now its about twice a year. The reason I choose not to go out is because I personally feel that the pubs here are ( I can only speak for the Lerwick ones I have been in) some are dirty, some are inadequately heated, some are in need of repair, some have poor facilities. Publicans should have a bit more respect for thier customers and provide things like heating, toilet roll, clean floors, clean glasses, clean trays, ice, a well stocked bar, an updated and working jukebox, half decent pool cues........just the basics really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinner72 Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 There was a time when I frequented the pub pretty much every weekend. However, along come bills, family, and the multitude of other ways of paying tax and "the pub" has been consigned to a rare luxury, usually experienced "sooth" rather than in Shetland, with the exception of the occasional stag/birthday bus. As far as my social circle goes, I don't think its had that much effect as most of my friend and family are in a similar boat, so to speak. Actually, with the imminent opening of Mareel I will inevitably be spending more time (and therefore money) in the Lerwick pubs from now on than I have in a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unlinkedstudent Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 I want me booze and me ciggie in a warm environment as opposed to getting fag ash in me eye and ice forming naturally in me beer when stood outside in a Force 7/8/9/whatever ... just a couple of reasons why I don't frequent pubs much these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Para Handy Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 Doesn’t drink can't see the fun of throwing up down the bog every morning like most drunks? Or wetting the bed come to that.Or making a poop-hole of your self.I have delt with drunks for over 30 years of taxi driving .drunks are the reason I gave it up.I got fed up of being polite to someone I wanted and I quote “Stress is the confusion created when one’s mind overrides the body’s basic desire to choke the Living crap out of some poophole that desperately needs it.†Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarotangel Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 I go out less often now, when I was late teens/early twenties I was out most weekends. I know I bang on about it but being in a wheelchair kinda limits the amount of pubs you can go into, plus I'm just not as able to do the whole "going out" thing much these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grift Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 Lerwick pubs hold very little appeal now-a-days. My main reason for going out isn't / wasn't to drink - it was mostly for live music and socialising. However, most of the pubs and clubs in town that used to host music have been closed and sold off for other uses or demolished. What we're pretty much left with are drinking dens full of drunks and little or no entertainment beyond a CD player behind the bar or a poorly stocked jukebox. It's quite grim really and that's the reason I hardly ever go out in town now. I'd say the lounge bar in the Marlex is about the most welcoming environment. A few drinks at a friends house is infinitely more appealing than a night in town, but maybe I'm just getting old! Roll on Mareel. My friends and I are looking forward to a film or some music and a sociable dram of an evening. Although the Lerwick publicans kick up a stink about how Mareel will negatively affect their trade, I haven't seen any of them attempt to up their game in the slightest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nortower Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 Unfortunatley nearly all of Shetlands Pubs, clubs and restaraunts are complete dives. Ive had a good meal and the queens, busta hotel and the Raba. The issues in why these places are so uninviting equally to do with the poor customer service. I moved south recently after spending nearly 3 years back in shetland (im a born and bred shetlander) And ignoring decor of a place, when your greeted by a waiter/waitress who take pride in there job, and you leave with feeling that youve been looked after, your more likley to go back. To walk into the mid brae in, wait an hour for your sub-standard food and get it thrown in front of you by someone in a pair of jeans and trainers isnt much of a dining experience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebedee Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 My very occasionally is really once or twice a year at most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.