 |
||
| At its most fundamental, the great British pub is a place for social drinking, but as any pub customer knows, the ‘local’ is far more than that. It is, after all, a ‘public house’ – its very name implying something which tends more towards a sociable home than towards a shop.
Whether in the depths of the countryside, in a small hamlet or village, a market town or a city, our best pubs are those which offer good beer, good food, and good conversation – they are the hub of their communities, and their locals are frequently sources of useful and unique local information. |
||
| It seems the most obvious statement – that a good pub is one that provides good food and drink, but in an era of fierce competition for customers, pubs have to offer something more. This doesn’t mean that to be successful the landlord must have piped music, games machines, and ‘alco-pops’, although these additions may help some. The most successful are those who build on consistently high quality to not only establish a regular clientele, but also to attract customers seeking out genuine food and drink.
As with most sectors of Britain’s foods industries following years of intermittent food scares, good publicans are responding to popular demand for reliable food and drink. Even pubs who are tied houses with little choice in the beers they stock will strive to source their food ingredients locally, producing dishes and sometimes whole menus that feature the very freshest seasonal produce. The Beauty of Hops Hops have just as many flavour profiles and ‘beauty spots’ as grapes, but brewers in the 1970s and ‘80s used to blend hops together to achieve a consistent grist rather than asking just one hope to show its individual beauty and character. This is not to claim that single hop beers are better. They are just different. But times have changed and there are now more than 30 single hop varietal beers in Britain including award winners such as Fuller’s 1845; Hop Back’s Summer Lightning; Hogs Back’s TEA: (all using Goldings hops); as well as Brakspear’s Coniston Bluebird (Challenger) and Caledonian’s Golden Promise (Target). (Rupert Ponsonby in the Good Beer Guide 2003) Other hop varieties include Fuggles, Bramling Cross and First Gold, and when used with different barley, yeast and water, the diversity of locally brewed beer an ale flavours can be genuinely mind-boggling! Taste and enjoy! Reading & Reference: The Landlord’s Tale By Barrie Pepper. Available from CAMRA Books at £6.99 ((£4.99 to CAMRA members) on 01727 867201, or Campaign for Real Ale, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 4LW In his heart-warming and amusing memoir, Yorkshire writer Barrie Pepper drifts back into his more youthful days, nostalgically recalling life in the pub his parents used to run in the 1950’s. During a time when ‘the local’ was very much at the heart of its community, Barrie describes the small town pub that bristled with activity – a bar, a tap room, a snug, a large lounge that also doubled as a function room, and numerous staff who even offered waiter service. The pub attracted a full cross-section of the local community offering not only refreshment, but also nourishment, entertainment and community spirit. Beer and Skittles By Richard Boston, Collins, 1976 An oldie but most definitely a goodie, this delightful and informative book takes the reader on a ramble through the pubs and hop-gardens of Britain. There’s a bit of history, some hard facts, many good stories, and descriptions of traditional pub games that range from the conventional to the bizarre. The sleeve notes say, “This is a book based on learning, love and an irresistible sense of humour; one which will delight those who are already fond of beer and convert those who are not.” The Pub is the Hub Available free from The Countryside Agency on 0870 120 6466 Assisted by the British Beer & Pub Association and Business in the Community, The Countryside Agency produced this fascinating document in December 2001. The Pub is the Hub outlines ways in which a pub might secure its future by providing new and important services for the local population. It is very much a guide to practical action, not just fine words according to The Prince of Wales, a fact that is hinted at by the subtitle ‘A Good Practice Guide’ Good Beer Guide 2003 Available from CAMRA Books at £12.99 on 01727 867201, or Campaign for Real Ale, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 4LW The essential guide for everyone who takes pleasure in a good pint that is kept and served well, the Good Beer Guide is far more than a pub guide, and all entries are chosen by CAMRA members who actually drink the beer and monitor pubs on a regular basis! Rural and urban pubs are included in this year’s 5000 entries, with detailed descriptions of some 4000 including not only what beers are served, but also such information as whether there is a garden, a real fire, traditional pub games, accommodation available, and much more besides. Room At The Inn Available from CAMRA Books at £9.99 on 01727 867201, or Campaign for Real Ale, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 4LW The CAMRA guide to good bed and breakfast at real ale pubs is compiled by Jill Adam, deputy editor of the Good Beer Guide for more than 10 years. Fully mapped, with information on pub meals, family facilities, local tourist attractions and much more, Room At The Inn, points travellers in the direction of quality and character for overnight accommodation. |
||