Guest Author - Karyn Johnson

Pub life is one of the most important aspects of British culture. Ale, after all, existed in England long before tea. Pubs are social places where friends gather over a few pints and perhaps some food. It is said that each English village, no matter how small, has at least one pub. They are generally the centerpiece of village life, at least as much as the church is. It truly is the place to go if you really want to learn about English culture and get to know her people.

Some Interesting Facts About Pubs

- Pub is actually short for public house. There are over 60,000 of them in the UK.

- They serve, of course, a wide range of beers, wines, and spirits. But food is also served. You can find everything from fish and chips to curries and lasagna. This is a relatively new development in pub history, as traditionally, they mainly served alcohol and perhaps a few bar snacks (pickled eggs, crisps, peanuts, and pork cracklings). You can now dine as well at some pubs as you can at some restaurants.

- Prior to the 15th century, pubs (or alehouses) served primarily ale, which is made from fermented malt. The Dutch introduced the process of adding hops, which made beer.

- In 1393, a law was passed that signs must be posted outside the alehouse, but since most of the population was illiterate, the signs posted were made up of pictures instead of words. Eventually, the pubs were named after the illustrations on their signs. This is still evident on modern day pub signs.

- Games and activities at pubs can include darts, pool, karaoke, video games, slot machines, and quiz games. Tournaments may be held and major sporting events might be broadcast on the telly.

Some Personal Pub Experiences

My first time at a pub was a rather intimidating experience. I was doing a study abroad program in Bath in the summer of 1999. We went to a pub called The Bell. Not being a big drinker or having a lot of experience with bars, I was overwhelmed by the choices. All around me, there were chalkboard walls with the names of beers and other drinks written all over them. Hundreds of choices…what to do? A genial young chap sitting at the bar saw my confusion and asked me if I liked beer. When I replied in the negative, he suggested that I try cider. So I did. And it was good. Later on that summer, I discovered black currant with cider, and "cider and black" became my drink of choice, just as The Bell became our main hangout after classes.

On a London trip in 2005, my sister-in-law chose The Anchor Bankside as a place to have dinner. She thoughtfully came up with the idea because she knew its 800 year history would interest me (plus, it was recommended in her guidebook). It was there in 1666 that famous diarist Samuel Pepys witnessed the Great Fire (so great, that it deserves to be capitalized). Tom Cruise had a pint there in Mission Impossible. It is perfectly located in Southwark on the Thames, with a beautiful view of St. Paul's and the Tower Bridge. And their food was very good. I recommend the carved meats buffet. If the weather is good, sit outside and enjoy your pints as the sun sets and the lights come up over London. That is my favorite memory of that particular London trip.

If you would like more information about pubs and pub culture, you can download the free e-book Passport to the Pub here.