Pub – a public house – originally, a small tavern, inn or coaching house where local people would gather to socialise and enjoy food and drink. Nowadays, the word carries much more cultural and community meaning than the original definition.
A pub is a place where people can go to meet friends, drink beer and watch sport on the TV or have an informal meal. Many pubs serve traditional pub dishes such as fish and chips, pie and mash, a Sunday roast and other regional favourites.
Most modern pubs offer a range of wines and soft drinks, although some now have an attached restaurant which is branded separately from the pub. Often, a pub will have a saloon bar and a function room or gig room which can be hired out for parties, weddings, music events etc.
The best pubs are rooted in their communities and have a history of village comedy and tragedy, the stickiness of tabletops, landlords’ tales and suspicious stains on the carpet. They are the heart of the community, the centre of socialising and the source of the stories that bind us together.
Sadly, despite the best efforts of the Campaign for Real Pubs, it has been a tough time for many pubs over recent years, with a number closing every year. This is mainly due to the rise of the large pub chains like Wetherspoons and Greene King. Their low prices and offers mean that customers choose to spend their money in them rather than the smaller locals.
