How does one go about describing the most common pub? Wait... did I say the most common? Rule number 1: never use "most common" when talking about pubs. They are all, but the same...Someone may say that bars are just bars even when they are different. That's when we come to rule number 2: pubs are not bars (well, at least, not in the U.K.). They are more like networking unions you refer to after work to socialize with your friends and complete strangers over a pint or two and one of the daily special pies.
In fact, it all starts with a name: ''Boot", "Hung, drawn and quartered'', "Nobody Inn'', ''Dirty Dick's" just to name a few." Owners' creativity had no boundaries and, in many cases, there was a historical explanation for names that may sound a bit extravagant in the 21st century. If you really think about it, some of the pubs were established as early as 17th century or even earlier and names like "Hairy Lemon" might have had a completely different connotation back then.
Once you are inside, you find yourself in a surreal world of Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter or owners recent nightmare gone wild (it depends how lucky you are with choosing a place). Wooden floors and wall panels, heavy oak tables, stained glass windows that look like someone tried to poke them with a fist back in the 18th century...Airplane models hanging from the ceiling, angel heads looking at you from above the bar, exquisite chandeliers and dimmed lightning produced by scarce candles and old fashioned lamps... it all makes an unforgettable impression that you are sure to remember for a long time...
Drink menu in many cases consists of beer and... beer and many types of whiskey and sometimes even cyder. Some of the places may offer you a cocktail... but if you are into flavoured martinis, cosmopolitans or margaritas you might as well look for your luck somewhere else. I desperately tried to order an apple martini in one of such establishments...After I tried to explain to a bar tender a concept of mixing one and how martini can actually be apple, I finally decided to settle with a cyder...
Pub can also be a place to get a delicious English breakfast on a lazy Sunday morning or even celebrate your child's birthday. This second one came as a complete surprise to me. One Saturday afternoon I was trying to understand what ingredients went into my mushy mushroom pie and why my gravy sauce had a particular intense colouring when a large group entered a pub. It was a bunch of adults with blankets and about 10 kids (age 3-5). As soon as they entered, adults made a play ground for their kids with blankets right on the floor and hit the bar for an early glass of an English Ale...The funniest part was that kids looked completely at home and behaved like real regulars...That was when I understood why pubs were such an important part of a daily life in the U.K. When you become a regular at the age of 3, you might have a difficult time picturing your Saturday afternoon without one ...
Cheers, mates!
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