Why are Pubs Opening Before Gyms?

Explicit content warning

07/08/20 • -1 min

My website is named Beer n Biceps, and that is the name of the podcast that I run. The idea behind the podcast/website was to teach people how to drink good beer while leading a healthy life and losing weight. So, I feel uniquely placed to answer the question “Why are pubs opening before gyms?”.

It is an emotive subject and one that has generated a lot of hurt over the last few weeks. It has also created quite a lively debate. My personal opinion is that pubs should be opened before gyms. But that the two businesses should not be compared in the first place.

In the podcast, I go into why I think that is.

Why are Pubs Opening Before Gyms?

The problem is, that my opinion doesn’t really matter that much. We are talking about people’s livelihoods here, and I feel obligated to support my many friends within the industry. A lot of personal trainers and fitness instructors will be worrying about their jobs and how they are going to pay their rent.

They certainly don’t want to listen to me lecture them about the health and safety capabilities of a gym vs a pub! Still, I have tried my best to answer the question as best as I can, using a combination of science, economics, and my own opinion.

I may be completely wrong. Luckily, it doesn’t appear that this will ever be proven either way. Gyms are scheduled to open within the next couple weeks, and I for one cannot wait to get back! Chairs have begun to squeak ominously when I sit in them, which is always a sign that the gym is needed.

Siren Lumina

I did not really go into much detail about the beer in this week’s podcast. Which is a shame, because it was really good. The problem was that unlike many of my podcasts, I just jumped straight in and grabbed a beer randomly from the fridge.

So there was no time to research it, and for that I can only apologise.

Lumina is a session IPA from Siren Craft Brew. It is 4.2% abv, and uses a combination of American and German hops. Siren Craft Brew was founded in 2013 and is situated in Wokingham which is near Reading. I’ve had their beers before, and they are always a treat.

Definitely worth checking out their website, or picking up a can or two when you next see them in the shops.

In the podcast, I go into why I think that is.

Why are Pubs Opening Before Gyms?

Siren Lumina

So there was no time to research it, and for that I can only apologise.

Definitely worth checking out their website, or picking up a can or two when you next see them in the shops.

Previous Episode

Personal Training and Boxing. A Good Mix?

As a qualified personal trainer and qualified Boxercise coach (don’t laugh, it’s a real qualification) I feel perfectly placed to discuss whether personal training and boxing is a good mix or not. Which is why I have dedicated a podcast to that very subject.

Personal Training and Boxing

Boxercise is a very underrated qualification in my opinion. It is held back by the ridiculous name. A more accurate name for the course would be “Teach boxing to clients safely”, but I guess that doesn’t have the same ring to it.

I got my qualification in 2010. I actually got it a couple of months before I got my personal trainer qualification! So technically, I was a Boxercise personal trainer for longer than I was a regular personal trainer.

For the first few years of my career, I specialised in this field. I taught many clients how to punch, how to move, and some basic combinations. The lessons were fun to do (for both myself and the client), and once the client knew enough, the lessons could be excellent calorie burners.

In the podcast I discuss why I phased out boxing from my sessions, and why I am not certain that boxing training is good value for personal training clients.

Market Porter by Thornbridge

The beer I’m drinking is a porter by Thornbridge brewery. Considering the fact that I used to hate porters, this was a very decent beer. Thornbridge is best known for their award-winning Jaipur beer, but they do a lot of stouts and porters too.

Check out my article on Beer in London to learn more about the origin of stouts and porter.

Their brewery has been in operation since 2005, and they are based in Derbyshire. Which, now that I live in Nottingham, is not a million miles away. I’d better book myself a brewery tour once this pandemic has ended.

Well, that should be enough information to build some anticipation. Check out the podcast, and have a great week!

Next Episode

Beers We’d Love to Drink But Can’t

Finally! After several tear-fuelled phone calls and an ill-advised trip to Watford with a boombox in hand. I have managed to secure the podcasting services of Mr Todd Davies. In this week’s podcast we discuss beers we’d love to drink but can’t.

The sound quality is not amazing. This is thanks to the social distancing requirements of holding a podcast (Todd was on the phone). But it was definitely worth it. Having two people on a podcast definitely improves it (in my opinion).

Going forward, I will still be publishing my solo-podcasts. And I will try and grab hold of Todd for the occasional collaboration. We’ve decided that our podcasts together will be solely beer-related. While my individual podcasts will be mostly fitness-related.

Beers We’d Love to Drink But Can’t

The idea for this podcast came to me while I was reading an article on North Korean beer (as you do). The article was pretty interesting, and was not beer specific, though they mentioned having one. Of course, I immediately went to Wikipedia to search for North Korean beer and found this article entry.

The thought that there was a beer out there that it was unlikely/impossible for me to try was sort of sad but also fascinating. I immediately started thinking of other beers that would be impossible to try and floated the idea to Todd.

Tynt Meadow

One beer that I immediately thought of was Tynt Meadow, the English Trappist Ale that came out in 2018. For a long time after it came out, it was impossible to buy as demand far outstripped supply.

But of course, it is now very easy to find. I actually walked down to my local pub who was selling it as part of their takeaway service. The beer is one of the highest-rated beers around, and I can definitely see why!

A gorgeous taste, great consistency, and it poured really nicely into my Duvel glass (I don’t have a Tynt Meadow glass ... yet). It was very different to Belgian Trappist Ales that I’ve tried, and it is also different from Abbey beers such as Affligem.