Reverse Colonialist – now, why arent there more English pubs in Rochester?

August 6, 2006 · by Dr Neil Hair · in Commentary, Personal

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The Local This months Wired magazine talks about the some of the features of 2030 earth – one of which is the process of reverse colonialisation. The concept interests me for several reasons – I am it seems a reverse colonialist (someone who believes in it). The concept is simple, with the advent of cheap global communications and transport more and more people are choosing not to live in the country they were born. When sufficient numbers (such as the retiring British hoards who en masse [irony intended] up sticks and move to France) make the move and settle in mini colonies a process of reverse colonization occurs. This has been the case in major cities for years. Interestingly though its clear that this is starting to happen in rural communities as well. My father lives in Brixham off the South Coast of England in Devon and reports a micro community of Polish engineers who have emigrated to Britain following their integration with the EU. He tells me they're amongst the best Engineers he's come across (and he's plenty of experience with overseas engineers having worked overseas for many years of his life). That's good for the UK. There are also more Polish eateries popping up. That is also good for the UK (especially if you like dumplings). So, the marketing angle on this is phenomenal. In my experience expats tend to be well paid, have a higher affinity for their home country than most (ironic since they've left it) and actively seek out reminders of that cultural experience. A form of micro segmentation if you like. There's money to be made here. So, I know three English people who live in Rochester. As is my birth-rite as an Englishman, provided you live more then a mile away from those people you are entitled to a local pub of your own. Thus, why are there only two English bars in Rochester all of which located in the city centre? As a reverse colonialist I therefore demand the immediate establishing of a brick built, non neon light sporting facia, non artificially chilled cellar (and the beer is NOT WARM – around the 40-50'f range if you must know), non baseball hat wearing policy, Gastro-Pub eatery within walking distance (preferably sporting pavements) of both my home and RIT. Maybe one day I'll get bored with academia and set them up myself. Lets face it, that's what Dave Wickett did with the Old Toad – another reverse colonialist…

Dr Hair is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the E Philip Saunders College of Business at RIT.

2 Responses

Gaurav

August 7, 2006 at 2:26 am · Reply →

yes. and all the help has to be from Australia as is my experience in fair London.
Christopher Adams

August 15, 2006 at 11:17 am · Reply →

That’s an interesting idea you have there, of expats being even more patriotic than the average resident of the country. I think something about going abroad for a long time brings out the patriotism in even an average person, because the differences become stark. Try my summer study abroad, for example, and celebrating the 4th of july in the UK.
Since we weren’t allowed fireworks or even sparklers, we would make do with water. There’s a long, dark path between the res hall and the pub at Hersmonceux Castle, with plenty of spaces to hide along the sides. Having purchased water bombs and filled them previously in the evening, my American friends and I staged a reenactment of the ambushes at Lexington and Concorde with the poor drunken pub-goers.
It was very interesting to see how Americana was used in the branding of certain items in the UK, including some things with hot dogs and hamburgers, and pretty much anything involving the wild west.