– A place to drink alcohol, often with food on offer.
– A socially-oriented, open-to-all establishment with a large selection of beer, wine and ciders.
– A pub is typically located near a home or work and provides a relaxed and friendly environment to relax and meet friends.
– A pub is usually considered on-licence, meaning it is permitted to sell alcoholic beverages on the premises.
– A pub is often a chain of several locations run by the same company.
– A pub can be a popular venue for music, especially during the 1970s when bands such as Kilburn and the High Roads and Dr. Feelgood formed a genre called pub rock and became a significant outlet for the British music scene.
– A pub is generally more intimate than a bar, with dimmer lights and darker decor. It also follows general restaurant etiquette outside of any dedicated bar areas, keeping the atmosphere more relaxing.
The word “pub” is derived from the ancient Roman term for a tavern. Initially, these were inns that had been granted a licence to put up travellers who paid a price for lodging and food. This gave rise to the purpose-built beerhouses that began to appear in the middle of the 19th century. Many of these took inspiration from gin houses and palaces which had become increasingly popular during this period, but their architectural characteristics remained distinctive and they became instantly recognisable. They would typically display beautifully hand-painted pub signs to help customers, many of whom were illiterate, identify them.
