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"Tube":3bj0245z wrote: Publicans needs to make money. Many (esp in urbana) do not own the pubs they run, which complicates this.
[/quote:3bj0245z]

True. But allow me a digression.

Go to any small/medium size town in Ireland and count the number of pubs. Visit them or listen or to the reps of the VFI who repeatedly state that pubs are dying on their feet. I don't disagree with that from what i see when i occasionally venture out into one.

However when you visit them, one of the problems (that i see) is that you have a market saturated with the same product (with minor variation- as in, one pub might go "radical" and serve toasted sandwiches or have a pool table, or who knows, only have twelve TVs blaring out Sky Sports News continually).

In the good times when people were willing to throw money hand over fist to go out and enjoy themselves, there was no trick to running a pub. Some modicum of knowledge in how to pull a pint sufficed, and if you sold pork scratchings, well, prepare to print money.....

Now times are tough. Pubs need to show some imagination to survive a tougher market. Do something different. Maybe special offers, entertainment or, dare we say it, some beers that you can't get in one of the other pubs. Or in off-licences. Entice people in, make them want to visit your pub.

From my limited experience, i don't see that imagination there. Lots of country pubs operate on the "this is what my father did and he did well" motto. While the consumer has a massive role to play in this, one of the stumbling blocks will always be conservative pub owners who will not take a risk. They never had to before, so why should they now. And that will be their downfall (for some of them).

So, yep, Tube i agree. I hope some publicans also agree and see a way to make money that doesn't involve the same old story.

Rant over.

All good points Damien. Tho I have to ask have you ever had pork scratchings. Holy God they're something else <!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: --> !

I was in a country pub in rural Galway a few weeks ago that had only three taps. All the exotic stuff, like [i:cax2luk3]Bud[/i:cax2luk3], was in [i:cax2luk3]cans [/i:cax2luk3]in the fridge!

&amp;quot;Tube&amp;quot;:z9sw6de9 wrote: Also has O'Hara's passed the 20,000 hectolitre threshold for being officially regarded as a micro by the Revenue to receive the 50% excise duty rebate?[/quote:z9sw6de9]The newly expanded brewery takes them to about 10,000.

Tube, you seem to be under the impression that Carlow are somehow failing at what they do. They're not. They're getting bigger all the time.

No John, not at all. I know that O'Hara's sell lots and lots of beer and are half way to becoming a macro <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

Leaving my smartass aside, O'Hara's has always been different to me. The have been more makers of supermarket beer than makers of craft beer.

&amp;quot;Tube&amp;quot;:26evr9n6 wrote: I was in a country pub in rural Galway a few weeks ago that had only three taps. All the exotic stuff, like Bud, was in cans in the fridge![/quote:26evr9n6]

I'm definitely approaching this discussion from a "rural" perspective <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

I remember doing my usual, standing on tippy-toes to see what delights awaited me in a rural Irish pub when the barman saw me & asked me what i was at. He response was a bewildered shrug and a "only west coast cooler and cans of Bulmers". Oh, the agony of choice... <!-- s:? --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_confused.gif" alt="" title="Confused" /><!-- s:? -->

Again, maybe I'm prejudiced, but i'm struggling to see most Irish publicans taking a "risk" with Irish Craft beer even if it guaranteed people kicking the doors to get in to get a pint. I'd love to be proved wrong....

I was in Luton airport yesterday. Asked in the bar had they any local ales.. "We have John Smiths" <!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: -->