Historically more so, but even today, yes. Treatise between countries were signed in pubs. People like my great grandfather bought the family farm in a pub. In my life time I have found some really interesting characters there and have had some really great conversations too as they are used to knit the entire community together.

Sometimes in these retarded economic times the last commercial venture surviving in the village is a pub... when that goes everyone laments it.

In the last few years there has been a massive attack on pubs with covid as well as an massive increase in rates to put them out of business. Its another vector of a control to close these place down as people get arrest online for tweets.