Still hope for pubs

Perceived wisdom is that street corner locals and estate pubs are lost causes. The 'experts' say that only pubs/bars in densely populated city centres and food-led pubs will survive.

In one of my earliest blogs I celebrated the fact that a run down pub surrounded by terraced houses in Birkenhead had re-opened as the Cock and Pullet. It introduced a range of cask beers and has thrived from day one. I was in there early on Saturday evening and marvelled at how busy it was. Even though the numbers were swelled by post-match Tranmere Rovers fans drowning their sorrows it was genuinely packed with a mix of young, old, male and female, from all social groups enjoying drinking in a pub just like thirty or forty years ago.

Although there was plenty of real ale downed from the five handpumps this isn't a 'pub for beards' as a certain blogger might say. There were lots of lager and alcopops drinkers too but the unifying factor was the atmosphere. It's an old fashioned noisy boozer where people go to have a good time. Many more pubs used to be like that.