In the heart of Rabat, just off Republic Street, there’s an empty space where ‘The Lido’ once stood. For decades, it was a beloved local pub, a place where stories were shared, laughter echoed, and time seemed to stand still. But today, it’s just an empty shell, a silent testament to a changing Malta.

Malta’s traditional neighbourhood pubs, known locally as ‘kazini’, are disappearing. They’re being replaced by apartments, offices, or trendy bars that cater to a different crowd. The loss is more than just bricks and mortar; it’s a piece of Malta’s social fabric.

Take ‘The Lido’, for instance. It opened in the 1950s, a time when Rabat was a tight-knit community. It was more than a pub; it was a living room for the neighbourhood. “It was our meeting point,” recalls Joe, a Rabat resident since the 1960s. “We’d discuss everything there, from politics to football.”

Malta’s pubs were community hubs, where people from all walks of life came together. They were places where you could enjoy a drink, yes, but also catch up with neighbours, celebrate local events, or even find out about job opportunities.

In Birkirkara, ‘The Duke of Wellington’ was such a place. It was a meeting point for the local band club, a place where young lovers sneaked their first kisses, and where families gathered to mourn the loss of loved ones. Today, it’s a clothes shop, but the memories linger.

Change is inevitable, especially in a small, densely populated island like Malta. But the loss of these pubs raises questions about the kind of society we’re becoming. Are we losing something valuable in our rush to modernise?

Architect and urban planner, Dr. Victor Axiak, thinks so. “These pubs were part of our urban scene, reflecting our social and cultural life. Their loss is a loss of our collective memory,” he says.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Some pubs are fighting back. ‘The Grain’, in Msida, has reinvented itself as a craft beer bar, attracting a new generation of customers. And in Valletta, ‘The Bridge Bar’ is thriving, thanks to its unique atmosphere and commitment to community events.

So, what can we do? We can support our local pubs, for a start. We can also push for policies that protect our cultural heritage, including our social and architectural heritage. Because Malta is more than just a collection of buildings; it’s a living, breathing story. And every pub, every ‘kazin’, is a page in that story.

As Joe from Rabat puts it, “We need to remember where we come from, to appreciate where we are, and to shape where we’re going.”