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Other countries have tried repeatedly to emulate this Great British
invention with a complete lack of success. Foreigners' insistence
on turning them into bars, or horror of horror putting waiters in
them, completely detracts from the push and shove, I was here first,
two pints of lager and a packet of crisps mentality that is part
and parcel of the British Pub.
Mind you one of Britain's most underestimated
sports is watching the tourists
sitting there waiting to be served - sometimes they catch on, sometimes
they walk out in disgust and sometimes a good natured barman will
put them out of their misery. The biggest joy is watching them wave
at the barman - oh what a dangerous life they lead. I've even been
known to help explain the rituals if I'm feeling inclined, i.e.
I've already got my drink.
The latest craze in London is a chain of ultra
trendy bars, for example there is a chain of bars called "All
Bar One". These are always packed with suits - i.e. the yuppies and
should be avoided like the plague (unless you are a total poser in
which case this is your kind of place and please stay there).
There are two classes of drinking establishments
wine bars and pubs. Wine
bars are for parties when you are relaxing/getting pissed with a
group of people. If you just want to crawl off on your own and get
pissed you need a pub, you will never look quire right in a wine
bar on your own knocking back a bottle of wine! It is however highly
acceptable to sit in a pub on your own knocking back the spirits
- presumably it doesn't look so bad a glass at a time.
There are a few chains of wine bars that I will
lump together under the heading of "Davey's"
- they are independent but are basically all the same. They are
dimly lit, usually in cellars and, 8 times out of 10, have sawdust
on the floor. These wine bars are more upmarket, more intimate and
if a man is with a women it is not his wife!! They generally only
sell wine, beer (of dubious names like Dogs Wollop) and port and
are generally quite pricey!
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Anyway
London Pubs