Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe LONDON, May 12 (UPI) -- A large percentage of folks in Great Britain believe living close to the local pub is important, a marketing research firm found. Mintel said even infrequent visitors to the local pub like to live close by just to say they do. Advertisement "It is almost as if a pub is a bit of a status symbol for a community, even if they don't use it much they want to know that they have the option to do so if they wish," Mintel said in its research report. The Daily Telegraph said the Mintel research found although overall pub visits in Britain are on the decline -- a dozen of the fabled hangouts close every week -- more than twice as many respondents said hoisting a pint with their neighbors is more enjoyable than drinking at home in front of the telly. Food has proven to be a primary draw for many pub visitors, and three in 10 Britons surveyed said a smoking ban has made their visits more enjoyable.
