The public house as a 21st Century community institution

Abstract

This paper reports on the initial stage of a longitudinal study into the community role of public houses (pubs). It focuses on a single village in the North of England, investigating the operation and patronage of its pubs. Many changes are apparent in these pubs, often reflecting some of the trends reported at national level. The research explores the experiences of various stakeholders, including publicans, pub workers, customers and other villagers in order to understand the evolving contribution made by this sector of the hospitality industry. The study draws on ideas related to the pub as place, notably Oldenburg's (1999) work on the 'third place', and as licensed provider of intoxicants, predominantly alcohol, that are seen to provide an important social lubricant.