After years of just being bland shit, real ale was having a resurgence with independence breweries popping up everywhere making exciting new beers. Then the big 3 breweries bought the independent companies and turned the beers back into the same bland mass produced mush. It's like they want to kill it off.

Who can afford beer these days? Even at these brands that are traditionally cheaper. Going out is a treat.

I miss when pubs had sticky carpets and a shandy bass was pocket money. Almost everything is fancy chairs, gourmet burgers with a fruit cider on the side.