A pub is a community venue where people can go to celebrate or commiserate, meet friends, and encounter the warmth of strangers. It’s perhaps the only truly classless venue – no one sneers at it, and everyone is welcome. It’s where the village gossip is exchanged, where songs are sung, and where tall tales are told. It’s where the locals go to meet each other and to get away from the drudgery of everyday life.
A good pub has a lot to offer, not just beers (and sometimes wine) but also food, games and entertainment. It might have an emphasis on sports, such as darts or pool or it may be a gastro-pub.
If it serves food, it’s likely to have a menu that’s designed for casual dining. This might include a full meal or just snacks like fish and chips, pies or burgers. It might have a menu that caters to different dietary needs, such as gluten-free options.
Pubs are open from around midday to late at night. They usually stay open for a little longer than bars, which have specific statewide closing laws (usually 2:00 a.m).
Bars have more of a focus on alcohol than pubs do, and tend to have louder music and flashing electronic machines. This can be an uncomfortable experience for many. The best pubs don’t play their music too loud – the silence of the empty bar, like a church without its organ pipes, is a part of their character.
