How Bars And Pubs Can Better Your Community

By Marcus Lansky

In days past, many people thought that having a bar or pub in their neighborhood made it less

desirable. It was common for the local bluenoses to try everything they could to shut these

businesses down. But these days, with the rise of breweries and pubs as meeting places for the

civilized and a new craft beer being introduced seemingly every day, having one of these

establishments in your area can only be seen as a good thing. In fact, the once-derisive phrase

“dive bar” has now become something of a selling point for many trendy new venues.

For starters, bars are major components of the local economy, as Andrew Yang pointed out

during his mayoral run in New York City. Bars and Breweries provide more foot traffic in parts of

town that might once have been undesirable for a person to walk in alone. And last but not

least, these establishments are places we can go to relax, mingle, and socialize that don’t fall

within the “norm”, meaning work and home.

Here, we offer some more of the best ways your local bar or pub can make your community

better.

Supporting the arts

Many bars hire local bands or musicians for the weekend (or Thursday nights for college towns),

which not only heightens the already festive atmosphere, it also supports the local arts. In some

neighborhoods, bars have begun hosting art shows or curating their own shows and hanging

the work of local artists on the walls, as well.

Fundraisers

Many pubs and breweries also host fundraisers, especially if the cause benefits someone in the

neighborhood or another local business. Many venues offer private rooms for parties and

groups, and these spaces can be used for charitable events as well.

It’s green

With so many businesses becoming eco-conscious nowadays, it’s safe to say that many

breweries are, too. Not only are they more aware of how to go green and help the environment,

but having a pub in your neighborhood means you could potentially walk there, reducing

emissions since you won’t need to drive. And because you won’t be in a car, there’s no danger

of driving under the influence. It’s a win all the way around.

Get social

Having a bar nearby means you always have a place to go when you want to get social. If

you’ve just moved to a new town and don’t know many people, what better way than to head to

the local pub and grab a beer? It’s also a great place to go with friends for an informal hang out

and relax after a long day at work.

“Friendship and community are probably the two most important factors influencing our health

and wellbeing. Making and maintaining friendships, however, is something that has to be done

face-to-face. The digital world is simply no substitute. Given the increasing tendency for our

social life to be online rather than face-to-face, having relaxed accessible venues where people

can meet old friends and make new ones becomes ever more necessary,” says Professor

Robin Dunbar of Oxford University.

Join the Club

Now that you know how much pubs benefit your community, you may be thinking of starting a

business of your own. A lot goes into opening a bar, however, so it’s best to be prepared. You’ll

need to craft a business plan, gather funding, determine a location, get a liquor license, acquire

staff, connect with vendors and set up your accounting system.

It’s also crucial that you get on social media channels to promote your opening. Posting on Instagram makes your business more relatable, and you may be able to partner with

influencers. Keep in mind that you may need to change the size of your image to meet the

platform’s requirements. You can easily resize an image for Instagram using an online picture

resizer.

It’s a lot for sure, but giving your community a new place to gather and socialize could turn out

to be the best decision you’ll ever make!

Bars and breweries can be great for your neighborhood and for your own entertainment and

wellbeing. Not only do they provide a safe place for you to socialize with friends and meet new

people, but they are often also wonderful venues for parties, fundraisers, and other events that

the entire neighborhood can participate in.

The Cocktail Camp is currently hosting in-person mixology events, classes and bartender certification courses in the Bay Area. Join us!