Well that's the thing. Where do the old people go and drink nowadays. There's not a single pub on Brixton Hill where the elderly can now go and have a drink in the afternoon (whilst it's still light). Decades ago, George IV, White Horse, Telegraph, The Hope (Mango Landin), The Elm Park, etc. all had their regular afternoon elderly drinkers. Now, none of those pubs open 'til 5.00pm. The only ones open are the two in New Park Road or the Crown and Sceptre, and they're too far for a lot of elderly.
Community my arse
eta: Less than decades ago actually. Less than 15 years ago