I’ll drink to that!

The UK is famous for a lot of things; our sense of humour, the social class system, drinking tea, fish and chips, the Queen, Downton Abbey, drinking more tea… but nothing quite sums us up like a British pub! It’s an iconic image that the British like to associate themselves with; whether it’s a group out late in a city centre enjoying themselves or a person stopping in at a country pub whilst out walking their dog, the British public are often proud of their local pub.

A typical scene from a ‘public house’ or ‘pub’ in the UK

Depending on where the pub is, what you find inside can be very different. Traditional pubs like those in the countryside or occasionally in residential areas outside of towns and cities will usually be less lively than those found in city centres. These pubs may serve food, and will usually provide the local community with a place to gather and socialise. They may also provide activities such as darts, snooker or pool and a pub quiz, or show sporting events on television. Traditional pubs usually have customers known as ‘regulars’, meaning that these people have been customers of the pub for a long time and order the same drink every time they visit! Traditional pubs are seen as very British and will often have names such as ‘The Crown’ or ‘The King’s Arms’ which relate to our Royal Family, or ‘The Red Lion’ (a name very popular with British themed pubs abroad).

In the city centre you will find pubs, some made up to look like the more traditional pubs, but many will be gastro pubs (selling expensive food) or ‘chain’ pubs owned by businesses, which use the same drinks and food menu throughout the UK. These pubs tend to be livelier, with music playing and fewer seats than the traditional pubs. These pubs may also show sporting events but are less likely to have pub quizzes or games such as darts.

A well known scene from the popular British comedy series ‘Only Fools and Horses’

If you have never been in to a British pub (and the description of it here sounds like your idea of ‘fun’) then why not visit a pub or two whilst you’re here in the UK? Pubs are a big part of British culture and can provide an interesting insight into how people socialise here in the UK. And if the idea of drinking alcohol puts you off, do not worry; almost all pubs serve soft drinks such as juices, soda and sometimes hot drinks like tea and coffee.

Let us know your experiences of British pubs, what you liked about them or if you’ve ever taken part in a pub quiz!