Gothenburg Public House System

The Red Goth, Lochore

The Gothenburg or Trust Public House system originated in the 1860s in Gothenburg, Sweden[1] in an attempt to control the consumption of spirits. Earlier in the century, 34 litres annual per capita consumption of spirits was recorded in Sweden. In 1855 the country proscribed domestic distillation. The city of Gothenburg awarded its sole retail licence for spirits to a trust, with the aim of controlling consumption.[2][3] The shareholders of the trust were to receive a maximum return of 5% annually and all other profits were to be used to benefit the local community. The town treasury was to control the income generated and use it to provide libraries, museums, parks and other community facilities. The success of the system led to its spread throughout Sweden and further afield.[2][3]

In Scotland

Prestoungrange Goth, Prestonpans
The Goth, Rosyth

In Scotland, pubs run under the Gothenburg system are often colloquially known as "Goths".[4]

Although controversial within the movement, some Scottish temperance campaigners advocated the system. The passing of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1893 allowed its adoption,[5] and it took hold, particularly in coal mining communities, where mining companies had previously opposed the granting of pub licences.[2][3][5] There were several 'Goths' in the Lothians, one each in Stirlingshire and Ayrshire and, prior to 1914, more than twenty in Fife, where the system took its strongest hold.[1][5] The local coal companies were often a source of funds to establish these pubs and were usually a dominant force on the boards of the trusts, with the miners themselves usually holding representation and sometimes contributing in part to the capital.[1][2][3]

A premise of these pubs was that they were not to be attractive or welcoming, to discourage drinking, and the sale of spirits was not to be encouraged.[2] No credit was given and betting and gambling were banned, as were any form of game or amusement (even dominoes).[1][5][6]

Examples of facilities and beneficiaries funded by the system included libraries, museums, parks, bowling and cricket grounds and pavilions, cinemas, community centres or 'Gothenburg halls' and grants to galas, charities, clubs and societies and for the funding of district nurses and ambulances.[1][2]

Today, some of these establishments remain as pubs but only the Dean Tavern in Newtongrange, the Goth in Armadale, the Prestoungrange Gothenburg in Prestonpans.[7] and the Gothenburg in Fallin, Stirling[8] are still run under the Gothenburg system.

Cultural references

The New Goth, Cowdenbeath

The Number One Goth in Cardenden was referenced by Ian Rankin as the first pub in which his character John Rebus bought a round of drinks.[9] Parts of Irvine Welsh's novella Kingdom of Fife are set in the New Goth in Cowdenbeath.[10] The pub in the fictional village of Newton of Wemyss in A Darker Domain by Val McDermid was formerly a Goth.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Duncan, Robert (2005). The Mineworkers. Edinburgh: Birlinn. p. 192. ISBN 1-84158-365-0.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Gothenburg Public House System". Pathfinder Pack on The Gothenburg Public House System. Resources for Learning in Scotland. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Gothenburg Public Houses". Scottish Mining Website. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  4. ↑ http://www.thegoth.co.uk/15.html
  5. 1 2 3 4 Hutton, Guthrie (1999). Fife – The Mining Kingdom. United Kingdom: Stenlake. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-84033-092-2.
  6. ↑ "Hill of Beath Tavern". Scottish Mining Website. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  7. ↑ Cooper, Malcolm. Raising the Bar. Historic Scotland. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-84917-012-3.
  8. ↑ "The Gothenburg : News - Discovered: another Goth still prospers @ Fallin - by Stirling". Prestoungrange.org. 2010-09-10. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  9. ↑ Allardyce, Jason (10 March 2002). "Audit Scotland in second Fife Council probe". The Scotsman. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  10. ↑ Welsh, Irvine (2007). If You Liked School, You'll Love Work... London: Jonathon Cape. pp. 205 onwards. ISBN 978-0-224-07588-6.
  11. ↑ McDermid, Val (2008). A Darker Domain. Harper Collins. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-00-724329-7.

External links

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