argyllboy wrote:Five pubs a week in Scotland are closing their doors for the last time, and that's before some daft new rules come into force on 1st September when they've all got to be re-licensed. Rising expenses, extra rules' and regulations, smoking ban, door stewards , and the red-tape involved in employing staff nowadays have all combined to make being the owner of a pub, or any small business, an utter nightmare. That Campbeltown can buck the national trend and keep all of its pubs going is, in my opinion, lunacy personified. Local "watering-holes" have closed in the fairly recent past (62 Club, Hall Hotel, Babbettes, Dillons) and more will go in the future, the best hope is that the premises that do close do not remain as redundant eyesores that the rest of us have to live with. So continue to support your local bar, and remember that it's not just there for the last two hours on a Friday and Saturday night.
While there are a number of valid points in the above statement argyllboy the pubs can equally share the blame with very few pubs in the town actually trying to entice customers through their doors these days. No more pub quiz (except the White Hart?), no live sessions and what about decent staff? Ones who meet and greet you? Who actually look interested to see you and have a chat with you? Most seem to grunt nowadays, quickly serve your pint (not very well I may add) before hurrying off into the corner to look at their mobile phone and see if anyone has text them in the last 30 seconds!! Very few do pub grub too.
I think most people don't mind paying a bit extra for a pint if the service is good but that is sadly lacking in most establishments these days......
It is a real shame for people this side of the town. (Dalintober) We've lost our shop, then our Post office and now our pub which means we don't have anything this side of the town. I might have to join the sailing club! 
