We all love a good night out, and sometimes, instead of clubbing, all we need is a cheeky pint in a pub.
Wherever you go, there is always a pub either in the countryside or in a town. While both businesses serve the same purpose, there are several key differences that set them apart.
Starting with Tally’s Bar, a 70-year-old rural pub in Galbally, rooted in generations of the Tally family. Owner Paddy Tally describes the pub as the “main social hub” for the area, which is evident, especially after events and matches.
The Fosters in Lurgan, while seen more as a club than a pub, is also rooted in its own history.
“The Fosters was created in 1888, before the National Health Service. There were actually 150 Fosters’ Clubs in Ireland at that time, and it had a magnificent number of members, but we are down to 26 clubs at the moment.” Manager Gary Bunting said.
The main difference between these two places is footfall. It is known that a pub in a town would bring in more profit than in a rural area. However, according to Gary, the Fosters do have “serious competition” throughout Lurgan compared to Tally’s Bar.
In contrast to this, rural pubs like Tallys must get most of their profits through events, like football matches, to keep the profits flowing.
“The football club is one of our most important friends within the business.” Paddy said, “If you have a match on a Sunday here up on the pitch, we have a big crowd coming after the match, especially if you win.”
The Cost-of-Living crisis had a major impact on the hospitality industry, although rural pubs seemed to be hit by it the most.
Paddy Tally shared, “So everything seems to be stacked against us, the profit and in the bars at the moment, so we’re just, it’s it is harder. We just have to adapt and think on our feet”.
The Fosters, like other town pubs, don’t seem to be struggling as much. This may be due to the increase in people with a disposable income.
“It is hard going because you have rates, insurance and everything else, but as long as we pay the bills, we’re not too bad”.
“This year, I have never seen as much money at any time in my life. I have been in this game for 30, 35 years”, Gary added.
However, both Tallys and Fosters have one thing in common: community. Both places thrive on their most loyal customers and their tight-knit communities.
Gary stated, “We’re here for the members. We’re here to help members”. Because every bit helps, sometimes people need to get out for a wee drink and offload their problems”.
Paddy also said, “Everybody in this place knows each other very well, there’s nobody like a stranger, so when somebody comes into the bar it’s like inviting somebody into your front room.”
No matter where you live, either in a bustling town or the quiet countryside, pubs play an active role in society and in terms of socialisation.