Stone’s pubs have long provided somewhere to meet friends, catch up with familiar faces and enjoy an evening out. While the traditional pub hasn’t disappeared, the way people spend their leisure time has changed.
Smartphones, online entertainment and changing social habits have brought new choices. At the same time, familiar activities such as pool, quizzes and live music remain part of Stone’s pub scene.
A look back at Stone’s pub history
Stone has a long brewing and pub history, with some establishments remembered long after their doors closed.
In a 2013 article for A Little Bit of Stone, Stone Historical Society chairman Philip Leason explored several of the town’s former pubs, including The Unicorn, The Blue Bell, The Castle and The Union.
The town’s brewing heritage is also closely linked to Joule’s Brewery, which operated from its Crown Street site before closing in 1974.
The opening of Crown Wharf in July 2021 brought the Joule’s name back to Stone, with a new brewery tap on the former brewery site.
These are reminders of how the town’s drinking establishments have changed over time. Some familiar names have disappeared, while others have found new homes or taken on different roles.
Readers interested in the town’s older establishments can find out more in our History Monthly feature on Stone’s lost boozers .
From traditional pub games to digital entertainment
For many people, a night at the pub still means a game of darts or pool, a quiz with friends, or watching live sport.
These activities provide a reason to visit beyond having a drink, and they continue to feature in Stone’s regular events programme.
The Red Lion offers free pool sessions, while The Bridge Inn hosts open mic nights and The Swan features live music. Crown Wharf is another venue used for organised activities, including local group meetings.
But the ways people entertain themselves have expanded considerably.
Smartphones mean that a wide range of digital entertainment is available wherever someone has an internet connection. Streaming services, mobile games and social media all compete for attention, whether people are at home or out and about.
Online casino platforms form another part of this wider digital entertainment market. This is a different experience from traditional pub games. While darts, pool and quizzes encourage people to participate together, entertainment accessed through a personal device can be enjoyed individually.
That doesn’t mean one has replaced the other. Rather, people now have more ways to spend their free time, both inside and outside the pub.
How technology has changed the way we find a night out
Perhaps the clearest change is how people discover what’s happening at their local.
Where pubs once relied heavily on posters, local advertising and word of mouth, social media and online event listings now offer other ways to reach customers.
A live music night can be shared among friends, a pub quiz can be advertised online, and visitors can check what’s on before deciding where to go.
It’s a change that benefits customers looking for particular activities, as well as venues wanting to make people aware of their events.
For a town such as Stone, where several pubs offer different entertainment throughout the week, having access to that information makes planning an evening easier.
Pubs still provide places to meet
Although entertainment habits have evolved, Stone’s pubs continue to offer opportunities for people to get together.
Crown Wharf, for example, has provided meeting space for local organisations and community groups alongside its normal pub offering.
Quizzes, live music and other regular activities also give people reasons to visit and take part in something together.
The arrival of digital entertainment hasn’t removed the appeal of these experiences.
Some customers may be interested in watching sport, others in meeting friends for a drink, and others in joining an organised activity.
For those looking for ideas, the A Little Bit of Stone What’s On Guide includes regular pub events alongside other activities taking place in and around the town.
Stone’s pubs may have changed, but there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy a traditional night out.
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