Londons lost pubs

Londons lost pubs, a set by Dick Bulch on Flickr.

52 pubs closed every week in the first half of 2009 http://www.beerandpub.com/newsList_detail.aspx?newsId=317 and a great many pubs are still closing as off-sales from supermarkets threaten their livelihoods. Part of the social and physical landscape of London (and the rest of Britain) is fading fast. Is this the world we want to live in?
Is it only nostalgic old people who miss them? or does their loss erode social cohesion?

The Artichoke (junction of historic Sidney Street and Stepney Way) is now surrounded by brown hoarding. It fell into council ownership and they want to redevelop as housing but can't get a good enough price or deal. So they allow some folk to stay on a temporary basis. It looks a right mess with old caravan outside, awful brown hoarding cut shorter in places. Click Here for a 2007 photo and it's location.