The
iconic British Pub, short for “Public House” is as much a part of British life
as Fish and Chips, the Royal Family and the Union Jack. Considered to be much more than a local
watering hole, the village pub is thought to be a meeting place, a place of
entertainment and an extension of one’s own home. No need for locals to leave their dog behind
as it’s commonplace for dog owners to bring their pooch to the pub with
them. You’ll often find folks engaged in
a card game with a table of friends while they warm up by the roaring
fire. Make no mistake, though, the beer
is definitely the main attraction. After
returning to America after 5 years of living in the UK, the cozy pubs of England
are what I miss most about the British culture I left behind. It’s a pastime nearly impossible to duplicate
on this side of the Atlantic.
There
are certain unwritten rules associated with frequenting local pubs. For starters, know that table service is
nonexistent. Customers need to place
their orders at the bar. I’ve had
countless friends tell the tale of overseas visitors who popped into the local
pub and stormed out after experiencing what they considered “the worst service
ever.” Those stories were always amusing
to me so I can only image the pleasure the bar staff takes when foreigners
unfamiliar with the protocol visit their establishment. When it comes to tipping the bar staff, it is
not only not expected but it’s simply not done.
You may offer to buy the barman or barmaid a drink but even that’s not
considered common practice.
There
are an abundance of choices available when ordering in a pub so they prefer you
don’t show up asking for “a beer.” Among
the top picks are Bitters, Pale Ales, Mild/Brown Ales and Porter/Stouts to name a few. Ciders are very popular particularly in the
southwestern part of the country and are usually made from fermented apple
juice. Wines and spirits are also
available to order, along with soft drinks, coffee and, needless to say,
tea. My mother came to visit once and
ordered a martini at our local pub. She
was served vodka in a spotted water glass with a few drops of lemon juice. Martinis are not in their wheelhouse. Stick with what they know.
If you
enjoy something to nibble on with your pint then you’re in luck. In recent
years the trend has been to offer pub goers more than the traditional bar
snacks offered from years gone by. Some
pubs will offer a menu of British classics while many are now offering a large
menu selection of higher quality dishes.
There has also been a trend in recent years towards “Gastropubs.” These pubs are a more formal dining
experience offering a variety of higher-end entrees.
Pub
names add to the charm of the experience.
One of the most popular pub names is “The Swan”, a symbol used commonly
in coats of arms. Swans are commonly
spotted in the UK. Each one is owned by
the Queen and therefore protected by British law. Some pubs are named to reflect an experience
that is believed to have occurred at the establishment. Among my favorites is the historic tale of
the landlady of a pub who one day found all her ducks dead in the garden. She didn’t want to waste them so she quickly
plucked them to prepare them for cooking.
While finishing up, she noticed the ducks appeared to be coming back to
life. She later discovered a leaking
beer barrel surrounded by webbed footprints.
As the story goes, she was so remorseful about plucking their feathers
that she knit little jackets for them to wear until their feathers grew
back. The pub is appropriately named “The
Drunken Duck.”
I
couldn’t leave England without having a pint in the country’s oldest pub. There is a fair amount of controversy
surrounding who is the actual bearer of that title. There is nothing more prestigious to a bar
owner than to be known as “Britain’s Oldest Pub.” I decided to use Guinness World Records as my
tie-breaker and went with “Ye Olde Fighting Cocks”, known by the locals as “The
Cocks”…true story. Located in
Hertfordshire, this octagonal-shaped pub was once a pigeon house. It claims to date back to 973 and has the
incredibly low ceilings to prove it. The
name is a reference to the sport of cockfighting which at one time had taken
place there. You won’t be able to catch
a show there these days but it’s certainly well worth the field trip.
International Vacation Home Exchange has luxury properties around the
world including several charming, character homes all across England. No matter which one you choose there is sure
to be a village pub nearby which you can call your local. Order a pint
up at the bar like a local before finding a cozy nook by the crackling fire and
know that hundreds of years’ worth of thirsty patrons before you have done just
that, right in that very spot.
Thank you to Travel Blogger Lisa
Medeiros, follow her on twitter at @lisamedeiros_
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