Why does the UK shut down for the night ?

Question

Hi,

In semi-retirement, I am called upon at odd hours to sort out technical probs for the "military" in the UK.

Job done, I wander out in search of a decent breakfast.

Everything is shut, barred up, closed, knackered at 3-4 am

Not so in the USA. 24hr food & drink.

I know it is a case of lack of demand for stuff, but is a Kentucky Fried Chicken thing at midnight too much to ask for ?

We don't all work 9~5

Bob

Answer 1

on sunday the law stops shops staying open at night. Tesco is often open 24hrs so you could buy some breakfast!

Answer 2

they are plenty a places open, depends where you are in the UK

regards x kitti x

Answer 3

unlike the usa we brits can no longer afford the electric and gas bills while we subsidise the french and germans,

our bunch of so called "peoples representatives"have never given a thought to "capping"power companies price rises,,,,but then they mostly have their fingers in the pie anyway,,,and having given themselves huge payrises while holding the countries down,,they get all their bills  paid by the public as well,

ps we also shut all public toilets as well at 5pm due to people having to use them,,,hows that for taking the P*ss

Answer 4

Maybe you could do some thing about it

Answer 5

A lot of it will depend on where you live. A big city or tourist resort will probably have such facilities available around the clock, but I suspect there would be much call for it in a small village in rural England.

The real answer to your question is one of basic economics. Where there is a demand, there will be a supply. If there were thousands of semi-retired people wandering the streets in the early hours of the morning looking for a decent breakfast after sorting out someone's problems, I suspect someone would tap into the potential.

Most people, I suspect, would just go home and cook their own breakfast.

Answer 6

UK culture is changing.  There is more available in the night and on Sundays.

I remember when supermarkets were closed on Sundays - and when supermarkets started opening 24 hrs.  I'm not an old fuddy duddy either - just 28yo!

We now have 24hr drinking in many areas (few Conservative-controlled councils, though).

If you're in Central London, there are lots of places to eat and drink throughout the night.  In fact, Central London is clearly a 24 hour city.

I used to drive buses at night (9pm-5am) and I used to find some takeaways to get food during the night - open mainly for people leaving pubs.

However, in some areas including countryside, suburban areas and smaller towns, there are often more limited options.  You are right that this is supply and demand.  Businesses are businesses, not charities.  They do not have to stay open if there are no customers.

However, there is usually something.  Look for a 24 hour supermarket - they are in many areas of the UK and offer hot food to take away (chickens, curries, pizzas, etc.).  Try a service station which will often have pasties, etc. and a microwave to warn them up in.

In larger towns and cities there are 24 hour McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and independent fast food outlets.

Or take a flask of soup or stew from home.

Good luck finding your food!

Nick

:)

Answer 7

I think it is probably depending where you are in the UK.

My town centre 'Subway' is open till 4am and McDonald's is open till 3am. Another of the fast food restaurants is 24 hour but I can't remember which one. We also have a 24hour supermarket within walking distance and another 3 within a half hour car journey.

We must be lucky, we can get anything we need, when we need it. Even our local 'Boots' which is in sight of the bottom of my street, is open till 1am.

Answer 8

Hi Bob - UK is still very much a "Puritan" country, inspite of the female navals on display.  Thus shops tend to close up at about 5.30 to 7pm.  This includes cafes, many of which are only open during the hours 7am - 5.30pm.  The last orders in most restaurants is about 10.30pm.

I say UK is "Puritan" because most folk still hold to the belief that anyone wondering about at 2 and 3am in the morning must be up to no good.

Until quite recently, it was almost impossible to do any serious shopping here in UK on a Sunday and this was due to a powerful group of Christians called "The Lords Day Observance Society".  Very Puritan, which had many supporters in the House of Commons.

It was really only during the "Elective Dictatorship" of Margaret Thatcher, that Sunday trading began happening.

I'll explain England like this.  In the 17thC The Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell MP banned Christmas.

The English as a result, did not really celebrate Christmas until the mid-19thC when Charles Dicken's book "Christmas Carol" was first published.

The Christmas we have here in England today is based almost entirely upon the "Christmas Carol" ["God Bless Everyone etc"].  Add to this a guy called Santa Clause, who was called Father Christmas until the Coca Cola company first introduced us to Coke back in c1916 or whenever it was the Americans joined us in WW-One.

The Santa Clause we have today is entirely thanks to the Coca Cola Company.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4WU0mlZB...

. . . .no son, I gotta tell you the truth, there ain't no fath. . . .

There is one American who still thinks of working from 9 to 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpKAA2VxW...

Miss Dolly Parton

If you stop in UK long enough, you'll be converted slowly to become one of us - a born again sceptic, unbeliever and heretic.  You will cease to be a Roman and instead will become like us, a Greek.

A Lobster - Brown Bess Musket - 3 shots 46 seconds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJMbxZ1k9...

Answer 9

That is quite pants. Although there are places open for all those people pissed at 4 in the morning. However, that might be why everything closes down, noone wants to serve the drnken mass at 4.00am. maybe you coulkd set up some kind of safe house for sober workers who just want kfc at 4.ooam. perhaps you could write to gordon brown??xx

Answer 10

It does depend where you are.There are plenty of 24hr services where I am.

Answer 11

If only A&E closed at night too. My feet ache and I am knackered.

Answer 12

Perhaps you should ask the military after you have finished your work or even get on home and make your own. You are quite right, we do not all work 9-5 but then again those that do do not want to wait up to 3am to cook you a breakfast.