Halal 'pub' keeps with changing times
A SWIFT drink down the local has taken on a new twist – at what is thought to be the country’s first Islamic ‘pub’. Reminiscent of the 19th century temperance bars, the Halal Inn, on Featherstall Road, is a public house which has most of the trappings of a traditional British hostelry, but is missing what many would think is the key ingredient – alcohol!
Owner Azizur Rahman and business partner Muzahid Khan spotted a gap in the market and came up with the idea to provide an alternative social gathering place for local Muslims. Mr Khan explained: "It’s a gathering place for people who abide by strict Islamic rulings and don’t like going to places where they serve alcohol. "What we’ve done is turn the bar into a soft drink and juice bar, with snooker tables, darts, karam boards and nasheeds (Islamic songs) in the background. "As a non-alcoholic venue it will appeal to Muslims more, but it is essentially for people from all backgrounds."
The building, formerly the Westwood Inn, also includes a restaurant serving daily specials, a prayer room, study room, business lounge and steam room. The drinking hole with a difference opened its doors in December and has been growing in popularity. "Halal Inn is a name which most people find intriguing," said Mr Khan. "There was a lot of conversations in the community about the whole concept and a lot of people were wanting to know more about it. We got a lot of word of mouth publicity and have even had visits from people from Birmingham and London wanting information on recreating the brand.
"It’s an alternative to your normal inn – a pub essentially means a place where people procure alcohol, but that’s what we’re trying to get away from. "Throughout the world there has been a whole movement about the word halal and products that are branded as halal. Muslims are a major consumer group. "Because of all this going on we thought that in Oldham we should have a brand of our own. It was easy to replace the word Westwood with Halal. It makes perfect sense." The venue, which opens from 4.30pm to 11.30pm, will also host a monthly Islamic quiz night and has created a snooker and karam league.
Taken from:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/halal-pub-keeps-w...
#SNM. #SMH.
I read this and i was SO shocked. o.O I still can't believe that someone can actually come up with such a ridiculous idea. Why do people feel like the only way they are going to bring the youth together is by imitating and copying the ways that non-Muslims 'socialise'. Who are they trying to fool?! I disagree with such methods.
BUT if for example, two people invested in something similar, with the same sort of aim and the same sort of activities, it wouldn't have been so bad. I think the bit that sticks out for me is calling it 'The country's first Islamic pub'. That's an oxymoron in itself. I am SURE there are people with better ideas around.
And then... I realised how old the article was, but i still think it was worth mentioning to hear YOUR views and opinions, so do share them. Thankfully and i am actually going to say Alhamdulillah - that it went out of business. Apparently there's a new takeaway in it's place now.
''Laugh-out-Loud''
That is all.
i dont like the idea of "oh, us poor muslims cnt have fun in conventional pubs coz pubs are so fun, so we will make our own" philosophy...
wldnt all those activities have worked in a mosque?
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
That's what i was thinking too. I think mosques should have a little community centre near them (and there should be a demand for them too) so that the kids, youth and adults can meet up after salah or at any time in the day to chill out. That's what we need. But if you think about it the other way, a mosque is a place of worship and some may feel that if they're not religious enough, this isn't the place for them which is why they resort to other places.
back in the time off the prophet sallAllahu'alaihiwassalaam though, a masjid wasnt really just a plce of worship was it? but we need to break that idea surrounding mosques.
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
It wasn't 'just' a place of worship but that was the main focus. In my opinion, i wouldn't want the mosque itself to have all these activites. If they do want it, there should be separate rooms, halls or centres that are attached to the main building for purposes other than praying salaah or reading the Quran. I just don't want a day to come where people begin to disrespect the masaajid for they are places of blessing.
When looking at the article, try reading it without the words "pub" and "inn" in there.
Those are just marketing.
They could probably just as easily call it a tea shop.
Or sell ice creams too. that would be a winner. I like ice cream shops.
Ice cream with tea is nice.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
There's a lot of things Mosques "SHOULD HAVE"
But as they're too busy building extensions to create more "empty space" these two smart chaps have spotted a business opportunity and are making the most of it.
It's a good thing.
I, along with a lot of others, feel like I can't be myself IN a mosque.
Can't have a laugh, can't just chill etc etc...
I'm gonna open a few of these myself when I become a little more sucessful.
It's that much needed stepping stone.
It's an alternative to a traditional pub and I personally feel it will save a whole load of kids from a whole load of harm.
Just saying....
I was thinking same as You and NS
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
masjids SHLD be places where people can chillax and relax and be themselves. that wnt happen until people are brave enuf to go in there and BE themselves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE5uv6-86T4&NR=1&feature=endscreen
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Some of their ideas were great and i know the youth would love to have something like that but the fact that they've tried to call it an Islamic 'pub' is what makes me dislike the entire idea. Pubs is a no go area for me and i would've even want to 'try' to create a similar atmopshere. Just whyyyyyy? Why call it a different sort of pub?!
you can be narrow minded on this. Or you can see the bigger picture and agree that it's a great much needed concept. I'm going to visit this place on a Friday night an do a "Mystery Shopper" review on it.
I thought I read somewhere up there ^ that it didn't work out and closed down
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
Oh - I'll have to open one of my own, let business pick up, THEN do a Mystery Shopper on it.
Oh - look what I just found...
http://www.lep.co.uk/community/a-sobering-new-venture-1-5623911
i agree with Hummus. i dont likethe use of the word "pub"
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
@Northern Southener. Warning: If you copy the same ideas and choose to describe it as an initiative which is similar to a pub, then i won't be surprised when all the money you put into this business takes you nowhere. I'm sure you wouldn't want to go out of business just like they have done? BUT if you're NOT going to call it a pub or 'similar to a pub' then you MAY proceede and possibly succeede.
What is a Pub?
When was the first ever pub set up?
What was it's purpose?
What I want to do is go back to that time. To show people that a pub doesn't HAVE to be a filthy place where you get "shit faced" and pick up easy birds (like it's become over the years)
It was, and should be, a place to chill out and relax and unwind. Nothing wrong with that is there?
I have no idea what their original purpose was, perhaps you could 'enlighten' me.
Was it not for the purpose of meeting people socially?
And now it's more about "getting pissed"
So if this will provide a simmilar environment, but without the "haram" bit - surely it's a good thing?
Yes it was for the purpose of meeting people socially and it was the heart of the community but as far as i'm aware even back then when they were introduced they still had the alcohol element to it and so for that reason if you try to copy and do the same, i wouldn't agree with you.
I don't want to deliberately destroy your business dream and if you want to do something like this, then so be it. But don't ever try call it a Islamic Pub, please? And stay hushed about the fact that your idea sprung up from looking at the purpose of pubs. Aaaand one last thing, don't compare your ideas to what is currently in pubs at the moment. Gawsh. This sounds serious. Almost athough we're in the planning process, lol.