I'm trying to be normal today and do my actual job instead of falling into a hyperfixated rabbithole of how pubs work and how they can possibly be so different despite being in essentially the same location and about the same size. But I can't get it out of my mind!

Both of them had dogs in, so it can't be that. The more expensive one was much more brightly lit, so maybe pub-grade lightbulbs are very expensive? 🤔

Any subject-matter experts hanging about who can put me out of my misery?

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[–] wingsfortheirsmiles@feddit.uk 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Who owned the two respective pubs, and what drinks did you have? The latter could've had them on promo for some reason. I'll say that whilst you can get price differences between venues they're rarity that extreme

[–] TeaHands@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Well this is what I thought, but then I looked on Google for reviews and everyone was just saying "go here for cheap drinks" so it seems like a long term thing.

Afaik they're both independent rather than chain pubs. Both had pool and darts. Although I did just find out (yeah the getting on with work thing isn't going so well) that the more expensive one doubles as a b&b with a couple of bedrooms upstairs so I wonder if it's a bit of a "captive audience" type situation.

[–] MTLion3@lemm.ee 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I agree with LameSauce that it may just be down to having a smaller crowd that will “pay a premium” to have a quieter/less crowded place to hang out and drink.

[–] TeaHands@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, probably. Whatever it is, people seem happy to pay it. We walked back past on the way home and it'd filled up nicely 🤷‍♀️

[–] wingsfortheirsmiles@feddit.uk 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As well as the premium for a quieter place to drink, the captive audience thing also makes sense. When I initially read your account it made me think of hotel bars, which can exploit the fact that many punters will be expensing their drinks...

[–] TeaHands@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Good point! It's a pretty rural town that people tend to stop off in on multi-day hikes and stuff so I reckon if you've just rolled into a "b&b" after walking all day you'll probably pay anything for a cold drink.

[–] Soku@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

£10.70 for two drinks is cheap by London standards so definitely that b&b trap must be working.