Sam

When I was around 13, so 1999, my dad was visiting England and we were down the local pub. It was in Luton and called “The Heron” While having a pint in the pub garden, kids ran from place to place. Brit rock was playing in the background. Men had a whole day out on 20 pounds and could spoil women with a drink. Everyone was laughing. British sunny days weren’t empty and pointless like they are now. Everybody had an objective. Everybody could go down the pub. A few years later, It was closed down to be converted into a Tesco Express. When I told my dad he said “when the pubs are gone, England is finished. Old people will be lonely, young people won’t meet. Everyone will be stuck in front of the TV waiting to die” I thought he was exaggerating and laughed it off. But think of England only 20 years ago compared to the dystopian hell hole it’s become today. The Pub was the corner stone of British society in the best way. Yes. There were alcoholics and yes there was the odd scrap. Better than lonely drug addicts and stabbing like we have today. Everything is worse and dad was right. When I was slightly older, 18/19, I used to spend long summers days at a pub in Chistlehurst Kent when visiting my aunt. Sunny? Pub. It was right next to a lake. We’d feed the ducks. Buying drinks all day long with a pocket full of change. You will never understand how Britain used to feel unless you lived it. How beautiful it used to be. But the pubs are all gone. And Dads gone. Englands gone. It all just breaks my heart.