What Makes a Good Pub ?

summerisle

The rain, it raineth every day
Posted this in the Beer thread ; what do you think.

It's an interesting observation really, what makes a pub : for me, it's the beer, but there's obviously more to this. Seems a good idea for thread. I think, obviously the ale has to be good, but there's that indefinable ambience, the people, the whole je ne sais quoi. If course, it's horses for courses depending on what you're looking for on a night out.

I remember when I went for an interview for a job in a hotel/ pub in Bury St Edmunds. It was just how you would expect a medieval building to be : black wa ttle and daub outside, and medieval wooden beans inside. I was most impressed. After the interview had finished I was was waiting for the bus to get home. I got talking to this old chap, who told me it was all fake. It was all remolded in the 19900s to appeal for American tourists who visit due to the airfields that were extant during WW2, and were looking for that authentic ''Olde English ' experience.

You'd never have guessed that the hotel wasn't medieval, rather than the nineteenth century construct it actually was. Artificially created, but if nobody knows, does it matter ?
 

Beer. By which I mean real ales, a good selection, unpasteurised - a living predilection needing skill to keep snd serve.

Ambience is good too. But whether its old beams or wattle and daub its hard to pin down. There's a great pub in Stratford on Avon that is a former shop on the high street. Modern, massive plate glass window, but barrels of real ale on tap, by which I mean tapped from the barrel. There's a collection of old records and a turntable. Its frequented by old fellas glad to get away from the wife. They serve nothing other than beer, or a gin for those that bring a missus that understands the rules. Simple. Bliss.
 
Beer. By which I mean real ales, a good selection, unpasteurised - a living predilection needing skill to keep snd serve.

Ambience is good too. But whether its old beams or wattle and daub its hard to pin down. There's a great pub in Stratford on Avon that is a former shop on the high street. Modern, massive plate glass window, but barrels of real ale on tap, by which I mean tapped from the barrel. There's a collection of old records and a turntable. Its frequented by old fellas glad to get away from the wife. They serve nothing other than beer, or a gin for those that bring a missus that understands the rules. Simple. Bliss.
Cloth cap next !
 

pricing
occasional live music
paucity of knubheads*
a quiet corner for a break up chat
a good wavelength of locals
non-egotistical licensee (and their immediate family)
vaults side for where the riff raff congregate
naughty back room where knock off sports tv is ok'd for a few in the know
no posers.
 

Quite popular themes I’ve noticed;

A punch ball machine surrounded by lads in black trackies

Beer menu consisting of only carling,Worthingtons or Guinness….and the Guinness doesn’t even come in a Guinness glass

A crap band smashing out cliche crowd pleasers to an empty dance floor, making up for lack of ability with high volume

2 for 1 meals that come with a bucket of basic condiments

A bandit with a sorry looking bloke with a few darkened teeth and fag burned clothes sat next to it who keeps telling everyone who walks past that he’s just put 20 quid in it.

Toilets with no seats or locks, or hand dryers that work.

A pool table with a gang of blokes in their 40s being really loud and a look that says ‘put a pound down and I’ll blow your jaw off’
 
I love a good pub, growing up I've always had what can be described as a local. Somewhere you can walk in, have a decent pint and socialise if you want to. Otherwise, sit on your own and be comfortable too. I love it.
I dont touch a drop of beer or spirits at home, it's just not for me but give me a good boozer and im a very happy man.
 

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