British "Pub Question" from a Yank
Discussion
While in Essex County in the mid to late 80s, I frequented village pubs that would proudly tout themselves as a "Free House". I have since assumed that this meant they were independent or not beholding to any particular brand of spirit.
1) Did I assume correctly?
2) Are such places more prevelant in the countryside?
3) Are there many "Free Houses" left or is the corporate takeover complete?
I always enjoyed the unique atmosphere of these places. My trips to the UK as of late have been restricted to London and last no more than a day or two, so I am out of touch in this regard. Thanks for any comments
1) Did I assume correctly?
2) Are such places more prevelant in the countryside?
3) Are there many "Free Houses" left or is the corporate takeover complete?
I always enjoyed the unique atmosphere of these places. My trips to the UK as of late have been restricted to London and last no more than a day or two, so I am out of touch in this regard. Thanks for any comments
Theres still plenty of these pubs about but you need to get out of the towns for the most part. There seems to be a trend now that a country pub (ie a pub that is situated in the countryside) should be a pub that serves a wide menu of food. Perhaps thats just what I see in my local area - or perhaps the country pubs cant survive without having the income from the restaurant side of the business - who knows?
Long may they continue anyway.
Long may they continue anyway.
Every time I visited a bar in the States, the piano player would stop as I entered.
All conversation would stop, everyone would turn to look at me as I approached the bar. When the bartender asked what I wanted and I asked for a whisky, people went back to their conversations.
Invariably there would be a card game going on, someone would cheat and get shot, then the whole place would erupt in a brawl and two or three people would leave by the front windows.
The women generally looked like cheap prostitutes, a couple of them would be smoking pipes and one would have black teeth and a spitoon.
In a back room, there'd be two or three pool tables. One black guy would resemble Huggy Bear and several others, Mike Tyson. Some Hispanic type would be cleaning his fingernails with a stiletto. Most young men apparently couldn't afford shirts with sleeves, but they could afford tattoos.
In the men's room, someone was snorting coke off the sink. A gorilla would be guarding the door in case Columbo, Cannon and Ironside showed up. If, as often happened, Starsy & Hutch arrived instead, someone would escape through the toilet window, leaving S&H having to settle for clubbing the gorilla with their guns. But they'd never arrest anyone for assaulting a Police officer, nor would anyone press for Police harrassment/ compensation.
Oh... and nobody ever paid for any damage...
All conversation would stop, everyone would turn to look at me as I approached the bar. When the bartender asked what I wanted and I asked for a whisky, people went back to their conversations.
Invariably there would be a card game going on, someone would cheat and get shot, then the whole place would erupt in a brawl and two or three people would leave by the front windows.
The women generally looked like cheap prostitutes, a couple of them would be smoking pipes and one would have black teeth and a spitoon.
In a back room, there'd be two or three pool tables. One black guy would resemble Huggy Bear and several others, Mike Tyson. Some Hispanic type would be cleaning his fingernails with a stiletto. Most young men apparently couldn't afford shirts with sleeves, but they could afford tattoos.
In the men's room, someone was snorting coke off the sink. A gorilla would be guarding the door in case Columbo, Cannon and Ironside showed up. If, as often happened, Starsy & Hutch arrived instead, someone would escape through the toilet window, leaving S&H having to settle for clubbing the gorilla with their guns. But they'd never arrest anyone for assaulting a Police officer, nor would anyone press for Police harrassment/ compensation.
Oh... and nobody ever paid for any damage...
popov123 said:
Theres still plenty of these pubs about but you need to get out of the towns for the most part. There seems to be a trend now that a country pub (ie a pub that is situated in the countryside) should be a pub that serves a wide menu of food. Perhaps thats just what I see in my local area - or perhaps the country pubs cant survive without having the income from the restaurant side of the business - who knows?
Long may they continue anyway.
Yes, if I recall they sold fish n chips or hoagies only; very limited menu. My favorite pub(cannot remember the name) was either in Finchenfield or Wethersfield and owned by a London lawyer who proclaimed himself "burned out" with the law; thus, opened a country pub.
wedg1e said:
Every time I visited a bar in the States, the piano player would stop as I entered.
All conversation would stop, everyone would turn to look at me as I approached the bar. When the bartender asked what I wanted and I asked for a whisky, people went back to their conversations.
Invariably there would be a card game going on, someone would cheat and get shot, then the whole place would erupt in a brawl and two or three people would leave by the front windows.
The women generally looked like cheap prostitutes, a couple of them would be smoking pipes and one would have black teeth and a spitoon.
In a back room, there'd be two or three pool tables. One black guy would resemble Huggy Bear and several others, Mike Tyson. Some Hispanic type would be cleaning his fingernails with a stiletto. Most young men apparently couldn't afford shirts with sleeves, but they could afford tattoos.
In the men's room, someone was snorting coke off the sink. A gorilla would be guarding the door in case Columbo, Cannon and Ironside showed up. If, as often happened, Starsy & Hutch arrived instead, someone would escape through the toilet window, leaving S&H having to settle for clubbing the gorilla with their guns. But they'd never arrest anyone for assaulting a Police officer, nor would anyone press for Police harrassment/ compensation.
Oh... and nobody ever paid for any damage...
That was either a very thorough and clever melding of many Hollywood stereotypes rolled into one complete description, or a smartass attack on me. I will assume it was the former.
Either way, you are up too late....go to sleep!! jimbeaux said:
Theres still plenty of these pubs about but you need to get out of the towns for the most part. There seems to be a trend now that a country pub (ie a pub that is situated in the countryside) should be a pub that serves a wide menu of food. Perhaps thats just what I see in my local area - or perhaps the country pubs cant survive without having the income from the restaurant side of the business - who knows?
Long may they continue anyway.
Yes, if I recall they sold fish n chips or hoagies only; very limited menu. My favorite pub(cannot remember the name) was either in Finchenfield or Wethersfield and owned by a London lawyer who proclaimed himself "burned out" with the law; thus, opened a country pub.
Oh no, its got to be a full menu now to satisfy the city folk when they venture away from the hussle bussle of their important lives...if they havent got swordfish, steaks, stews and warm salads they'd probably never see any business...
Im very lucky and live in a relatively rural area, and we do have lots of these country pub/restaurants to choose from.
wedg1e said:
Every time I visited a bar in the States, the piano player would stop as I entered.
All conversation would stop, everyone would turn to look at me as I approached the bar. When the bartender asked what I wanted and I asked for a whisky, people went back to their conversations.
Invariably there would be a card game going on, someone would cheat and get shot, then the whole place would erupt in a brawl and two or three people would leave by the front windows.
The women generally looked like cheap prostitutes, a couple of them would be smoking pipes and one would have black teeth and a spitoon.
In a back room, there'd be two or three pool tables. One black guy would resemble Huggy Bear and several others, Mike Tyson. Some Hispanic type would be cleaning his fingernails with a stiletto. Most young men apparently couldn't afford shirts with sleeves, but they could afford tattoos.
In the men's room, someone was snorting coke off the sink. A gorilla would be guarding the door in case Columbo, Cannon and Ironside showed up. If, as often happened, Starsy & Hutch arrived instead, someone would escape through the toilet window, leaving S&H having to settle for clubbing the gorilla with their guns. But they'd never arrest anyone for assaulting a Police officer, nor would anyone press for Police harrassment/ compensation.
Oh... and nobody ever paid for any damage...
wedg1e said:
Every time I visited a bar in the States, the piano player would stop as I entered.
All conversation would stop, everyone would turn to look at me as I approached the bar. When the bartender asked what I wanted and I asked for a whisky, people went back to their conversations.
Invariably there would be a card game going on, someone would cheat and get shot, then the whole place would erupt in a brawl and two or three people would leave by the front windows.
The women generally looked like cheap prostitutes, a couple of them would be smoking pipes and one would have black teeth and a spitoon.
In a back room, there'd be two or three pool tables. One black guy would resemble Huggy Bear and several others, Mike Tyson. Some Hispanic type would be cleaning his fingernails with a stiletto. Most young men apparently couldn't afford shirts with sleeves, but they could afford tattoos.
In the men's room, someone was snorting coke off the sink. A gorilla would be guarding the door in case Columbo, Cannon and Ironside showed up. If, as often happened, Starsy & Hutch arrived instead, someone would escape through the toilet window, leaving S&H having to settle for clubbing the gorilla with their guns. But they'd never arrest anyone for assaulting a Police officer, nor would anyone press for Police harrassment/ compensation.
Oh... and nobody ever paid for any damage...
You as well,ay? That's why I quit drinking.
And you forgot to mention the pink Elephant:
I thought the free houses were because in those days the other ones were only allowed to sell drinks from the one brewery... but the rules changed ... or something... I remember seeing something on the news (before I were old enough to go in pubs)
Pub food is great - I think the odd food start in pubs and then filter to the posh restaurants rather than the other way.
Pub food is great - I think the odd food start in pubs and then filter to the posh restaurants rather than the other way.
popov123 said:
Theres still plenty of these pubs about but you need to get out of the towns for the most part. There seems to be a trend now that a country pub (ie a pub that is situated in the countryside) should be a pub that serves a wide menu of food. Perhaps thats just what I see in my local area - or perhaps the country pubs cant survive without having the income from the restaurant side of the business - who knows?
Long may they continue anyway.
Oh yes some of the best food I've eaten has been in a country pub-I think particluarly as people often need to drive their it is crucial to staying in business.
On the subject of English counties. Technically they are all counties but only one is usually referred to as "County ....." on a regular basis - County Durham. All the others are usually referred to as their name only e.g. Shropshire, Essex, Warickshire, Derbyshire etc etc.
On the other hand, in Ireland they are ALL refered to as "County ....." e.g. County Dublin, County Cork, County Limerick etc etc etc.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Saturday 26th March 08:15
On the other hand, in Ireland they are ALL refered to as "County ....." e.g. County Dublin, County Cork, County Limerick etc etc etc.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Saturday 26th March 08:15
Eric Mc said:
On the subject of English counties. Technically they are all counties but only one is usually referred to as "County ....." on a regular basis - County Durham. All the others are usually referred to as their name only e.g. Shropshire, Essex, Warickshire, Derbyshire etc etc.
On the other hand, in Ireland they are ALL refered to as "County ....." e.g. County Dublin, County Cork, County Limerick etc etc etc.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Saturday 26th March 08:15
Why is that?
Bastard!!! 
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