Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 16th September, 2014)

There's more pubs shut than open these days. Another junk food outlet in the pipe line...and more junk food leaflets through our letter boxes among the rest of the junk mail.

Midnight, one more night without sleeping,
Watching till the morning comes creeping.
Green door, what's that secret you're keeping?

There's an old piano
And they play it hot behind the green door;
Don't know what they're doing
But they laugh a lot behind the green door.
Wish they'd let me in
So I could find out what's behind the green door.

Knocked once, tried to tell them I'd been there;
Door slammed, hospitality's thin there.
Wonder just what's going on in there

Saw an eyeball peeping
Through a smoky cloud behind the green door;
When I said "Joe sent me"
Someone laughed out loud behind the green door.
All I want to do
Is join the happy crowd behind the green door.

Midnight, one more night without sleeping,
Watching till the morning comes creeping.
Green door, what's that secret you're keeping?

Green door what's that secret you're keeping?

Green door!

The second oldest pub in Leigh,another pub bites the dust

Yes, sign of the times.

Drink and drive rules, parking availablity, cost of a pint...all contribute to staying home. Shame.

I don't think it is as simple as pubs are just closing everywhere as people stay at home / it's too expensive etc..

People now demand more from a pub / decent food / good real & craft ales / decent wine selection etc..

Times have changed and the pubs which are moving with them are doing well, the one's stuck in the 70's and 80's are closing.

I agree with Rob in a way, it's not just because of high cost, it seems that people do demand more from a pub in the way of what they offer, ie decent food, decent and wide choice of drinks/wines, etc, but not only that but most people want it catered for them and their families, with kids activities, play areas, kids meals, which the old pubs like the one above just could not provide. This is the reason we are seeing a massive rise in these carvery snd weatherspoon pubs and eating places. Everytime I visit a carvery (not very often mind you), it's always chockfull of families, and you'd be lucky to get a seat. Are they giving the food/drink away at these places?, people somehow have the money to go these places.

People like "fitting in" and they see these trendy all you you can eat carvery/pubs as a new thing from the traditional old fashioned pub or club.

I doubt many want to visit an old fashioned stuck in the past pub with s load of old men sitting there all day moaning about something and playing dominoes or darts.

I also agree with Garry that this will no doubt be a junk food outlet soon to replace it. Why do people eat at those places anyway? are people so damn poor that they can't afford a decent meal in a restaurant or pub, or even a cafe?. I feel so sad when these pubs get demolished to make way for a McDonald's or KFC, but sadly people don't care.

I agree with Daz, it's all about lazy people who don't/can't cook. All this free delivery nonsense for junk food. What happens if the foods off of cold. Ring them back up. I think it's poor food smoothered in garlic to hide the junk taste they sell.

I remember an elderly guy in a pub like the above who was always the first in and last out. This guy was a legend. Always sitting alone in the corner he would disturb no one. On entering he would order half bitter and quietly goes to his corner seat. Throughout the day the locals would arrive and without fail ask if he was alright as regards a pint, seldom did the legend refuse. It goes without saying, that after each visit to the pub (pubs closed at times of the day in those days) he left not only refreshed but slightly loose at the legs. I know guys slightly off the point and Rob and Daz are absolutely correct, but these pubs had characters and this guy certainly knew how to make a pub successful.

Don't eat junk food, than maybe they'll shut down like the pubs. Let keep the Great British fish and chip shop open....I mean traditional chippies.

I blame the smoke ban and cask ales at top whack prices.

Look how much junk food leaflets comes through the letter box every week, even three times a week.

What would happen ,if on closing time of the pubs and clubs, all the junk food shops were closed ? I beg to suggest it would not be pleasant. (I expect the obvious reply).

It's not really good to eat before bed time, Ann. Most sensible people eat out during the evening. But the junk food establishments target the young drunks after they've left the pubs and clubs, and whose taste buds don't comprehend with the brain anyway!

What would happen ,if on closing time of the pubs and clubs, all the junk food shops were closed ? I beg to suggest it would not be pleasant. (I expect the obvious reply).

Kal, I am 100% with you on that. I was pondering to say those things but was abit hesitant and felt I would be seen as abit old fashioned and not "moving on with the times", a comment which I hate. What do you think the pub was intended for, apart from earning abit of money for the landlord/local brewery? it was about a place where the working class people could go to or meet up, have a few drinks and swap information and have conversation and interaction with people be it a friend or colleague they happened to chance upon, and maybe have some fun playing pool or darts. But all in all it was about the character and atmosphere of the place and the people that frequented it. My dad can tell me so many stories of the characters he knew or used to come across during his pub days, alot of em friendly and right gents.

I agree about the junk food leaflets being pushed through the letterbox all the day. These indian restaurants, chinese takeaways, Kebab and pizza places and so on are making a killing on the plain lazy amongst us, and that also goes for those that queue up at these car wash places and pay upto 30 or 30 quid at a time just so someone can wash their car for them, something you can do yourself for practically nothing using a bucket of water and soap/cleaning liquid; so many lazy people out there, but that's for another debate. They're springing up everywhere because they know alot of people are bone-idle lazy to do it themselves.

Love the way someone has deleted the H from butcher !

I hope those car wash places have got water meters installed, every day they work washing lazy folks cars. How much water is used 1,000s of litres per day...and there everywhere.

More like MILLIONS of Gallons. Yah, do the they have WATER METRES, I hope the have.

What would happen..Ann?????

Use your imagination Gordon. Like them or not these junk food places are vital. They exist because , like drugs or mobile phones , people want them. Not everyone likes or wants Jamie Oliver. I know guys off the picture above, just responding .

"JUNK food places are VITAL", what a loan of shear nonsense Ann, they do exist because of people like you.Some people have never had a good square meal in their life. Don't give me that nonsense about having no time to make food. You also say junk food is "like Drugs or mobile phones" people want them. Well I understand that phones are vital, but DRUGS??? I think your comments says a lot about you Ann.
To answer Gordon's comment, nothing would happen if junk food was stopped, but people would feel more healthy.

Garry, I am just as horrified with your comments as you are with mine. With such a huge difference of observation and opinion I see no sense arguing . Let us respectfully beg to differ.

I agree Ann x. (until next time)

Yes Garry, no doubt. I always like to read your particular comments as you always stand your ground, an attribute I greatly admire, maybe because I,m like you, who knows..

Yes you aswell Ann, your a bit of a battle-axe yourself. I love a good debate what ever the subject.

Have you 2 finished,,Good

Point taken Fred, I'll drop it now.
BATTLE AXE GARRY!!? How dare you....
Joking Fred..