Intermediate size venues got wiped out because smokers are extremely profitable--smoking and drinking go together.
Same in pubs. The smoking-and-drinking crowd got edged out by parents who for some reason want to bring their kids to the pub. They will have brought their own drinks and snacks for the kids too. The mother will have a small glass of wine and the father will drink half a pint of "craft beer", stretched out over a couple of hours while their kids run around screaming and annoying the few remaining paying drinkers.
I loved pubs in the old days but even before COVID they were dying out because they just don't want their loyal paying customers any more.
Same in pubs. The smoking-and-drinking crowd got edged out by parents who for some reason want to bring their kids to the pub. They will have brought their own drinks and snacks for the kids too. The mother will have a small glass of wine and the father will drink half a pint of "craft beer", stretched out over a couple of hours while their kids run around screaming and annoying the few remaining paying drinkers.
I loved pubs in the old days but even before COVID they were dying out because they just don't want their loyal paying customers any more.