The Future of the Irish Pub

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The Future of the Irish Pub within Wider
Society Julie Gannon, Research Project
Manager Gillian OBrien, Doctoral Student THE
FUTURES ACADEMY, FACULTY OF THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT, DUBLIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.
MEAS 3rd Annual Alcohol and Society
Conference, The Clarion Hotel, Cork, 11th
October, 2005
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The Futures Academy

• The Futures Academy, DIT was established in 2003
  as
• a centre of excellence to fulfil the need for a
  creative approach towards innovative strategic
  planning in Ireland by helping
• others prepare for, and embrace, future
  uncertainty
• How do we achieve this?
• - professional guidance, training seminars
• - cutting edge PhD research
• - international, EU national projects
• - World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF)
• - futures workshops
• - futures module

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Driving Forces of Change

• What are the major driving forces of change and
  how
• should the Irish pub industry prepare itself
• now to face a future of uncertainty and
  complexity?
• We are witnessing revolutionary transformations
  on a global,
• European and Irish scale in the following 6
  sectors
• Technology
• Demography
• Governance
• Environment
• Society/Culture
• Economy

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The Need for a Futures Approach
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The Need for a Futures Approach

• uncertain what lies ahead for Irish society
• most of us anticipate some form of change
• - new markets
• - new legislation
• - new locations
• - new competitors
• - new technology
• still plan and invest based on past trends and
  current conditions
• leaves us in a difficult position when
  confronted with an
• unfamiliar turn of events or unexpected change
• a structured and creative futures approach
  should be adopted

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The Benefits of a Futures Approach

• powerful tools to aid decision making in face of
  uncertainty
• multiple perspectives on complex events
• highly interactive, intense and imaginative
  approach
• challenging and surprising
• rehearse tomorrows future to produce better
  decisions today
• address, identify, evaluate and ameliorate RISK

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The Futures Field

• Futures techniques include
• - Horizon Scanning
• - Survey Questionnaires
• - Scenarios
• - Strategic Conversations
• - Wind Tunnel Testing
• - Visioning Workshops

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The Prospective through Scenarios Process
So What?
Gannon, OBrien Ratcliffe (2005) The Futures
Academy
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The Irish Pub 2015 Futures Workshop
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Futures WorkshopsA Handbook

• PART I Background, Concepts
• Futures in Planning
• PART II Practical guide to using
• futures methods step-by-step
• advice on futures workshops
• PART III Next steps, potential pitfalls
• lessons from practice

Futures Workshops A Handbook for Urban
Practitioners
Professor John S. Ratcliffe Julie Gannon
The Futures Academy Dublin Institute of
Technology
In conjunction with LUDA Improving the Quality
of Life in Large Urban Distressed Areas, a
research project within the Fifth Framework
Programme of the European Commission.
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The Irish Pub 2015

• Briefing Session
• Session 1
• Set the Strategic Question
• Identify Driving Forces of Change
• Determine Main Issues and Trends
• Session 2
• Future Directions for the Irish Pub
• Potential Wild Cards
• Group Presentations Discussion
• So what?
• Fosters an inspiring and imaginative approach
• About why, not just where we want to go
• A process of inclusive engagement
• Imagine forwards, plan backwards

Futures Workshops
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A Vision for the Future of the Irish Pub in 2015
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Integral part of the leisure industry
The Third Place
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China towns at Ranelagh, Parnell Street
Turkish quarter
French cafes
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What women want
Ladies who lunch
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Classic movie nights
Internet bars
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Leisure centres gyms
Dvds
Off-licenses
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Challenges for the Future

- What of the future beyond the today of 2015? -
Will we see an anti-drink culture? - Will there
be 24 hour opening, and shared uses ? - Will the
grey market be more important? - Will we see the
rise of the members only bar? - Will food be
the prime product not drink? - Will there be fine
wines as well as fine ales? - Will entertaining
outweigh imbibing? - Will the licensed trade
accept social responsibility in return for
commercial success? - Will the experience
matter more than alcohol?
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Closing Thought

At the end of our exploration will be to arrive
where we started and know the place for the
first time. T.S. Elliot