American Couple Reacts: The Great British Pub Culture, Explained! FIRST TIME REACTION!!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
- American Couple Reacts: The Great British Pub Culture, Explained! FIRST TIME REACTION!! Finally! A video that actually explains British pub culture. This is a topic that we have wanted to learn more about. This is a short but thorough video and we learned a lot here! While there are some similarities between American & British Pubs, we certainly do not have the deep culture that you do in the United Kingdom. We had several questions in this episode that we are hoping you will answer for us in the comments. Let us know if any information was left out and what you would add. Thank you SO much for watching! If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our channel, it is the BEST way to support our channel and it's FREE! Also, please click the Like button. Thank you for your support! *More Links below...
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Finally! A video that actually explains British pub culture. This is a topic that we have wanted to learn more about. This is a short but thorough video and we learned a lot here! While there are some similarities between American & British Pubs, we certainly do not have the deep culture that you do in the United Kingdom. We had several questions in this episode that we are hoping you will answer for us in the comments. Let us know if any information was left out and what you would add. Thank you SO much for watching! If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our channel, it is the BEST way to support our channel and it's FREE! Also, please click the Like button. Thank you for your support!
You should check out the battle of bamber bridge 1943. More British pub culture and we don't let people mess with us
I can drink.alcohol, love a beer, but you can order soft drinks Natasha. I sometimes drink Orange juice.
Pub grub can be anything from a ploughmans to a steak
Most UK pubs serve tea & coffee and a good range of none alcoholic drinks. Most pubs have good quality food especially gastro pubs. There is a guide book to The best UK pubs, which you may find interesting, Many pubs have nice outdoor spaces for dinning drinking and children's play areas. There is more to country pubs than grumpy locals scowling at strangers lol
You have to go to a pub, it's a must. Nobody will care what you're doing.
I don’t drink Natasha, I always have a soft drink, pubs are more about banter, humour etc.
The one thing he neglected to mention about British pubs compared to American is that, in the UK, kids and dogs are usually welcome, particularly in country pubs
I respectfully disagree my friend. Children are allowed into some pubs but it's generally only pubs which predominantly serve food who welcome them.
oooh! love a 'pub dog'!!
@@talboyovGYAnd even then, usually only in the daytime.
@@talboyovGYmy local let's kids and dogs in and it doesn't serve food
@thomassayles3699 I'm not saying it's only food pubs however in general they are receptive whereas just booze pubs are less so. Where I grew up there weren't any local pubs who allowed kids in. That was a different time though tbf
You can’t beat a good country pub with a garden. We don’t drink but we go nearly every week for a good meal (that I don’t have to cook, or clean up after), and a pot of tea or a coke. Lovely if you can sit outside in the sun, or in the winter, by a roaring fire.
every village and small town has more pubs that look like "country pubs" rather than London pubs !
@@marycarver1542Nice.
All British pubs have many non alcohol drinks available and also non alcohol beers and cocktails etc
Alas they are getting less and less , either knocked down for flats or sold to the big brewery companies.
Look at that travesty at the famous " crooked beam ", u can't say 100% but when you already have excavators hired and your pub burns down and next day u bulldoze it well 😠🤔 , does make one wonder.
Really hope our pubs make it thru these hard times as they always been the center of our community.
As for soft drinks lol damn right they sell them , the cost of a large come u might as well have a pint 👍 which I will in 2 and a bit hours 😃✌️
Meals are the key with good UK pubs, these days. Beer is very expensive in a pub and a luxuary. Few can like in the old days, pay for a round of beer. Cost of living crisis. Cut taxes.
Oh... Forgot to say, I'm from Cornwall and near me is a village called Vogue, with a pub called The Vogue Inn, and I think it was last year that the magazine vogue tried to legally stop them using the name!!! The landlord wrote back a letter literally telling them where to shove it! And to look up how old the pub and name/village was..... They soon received a grovelling letter of apology! 😎✉️❤️
that apology is well deserved. great story!
Im in Pz and remember hearing about that. So funny..
Personally I think traditional ‘pub grub’ is things like Shepards pie, Cottage pie, Toad in the hole, Steak, mixed grill, Hunters chicken, Scampi & chips.. that sort of thing. But each pub will do its own specials. And as many people have said there is a wide range of non alcoholic drinks, and nobody would bat an eyelid to anyone ordering them 😊
Shepherd's Pie*
I’ve been sober near 7 years and a visit to the pub is absolutely fine. A lot of pubs now will have coffee machines, offer lime & sodas and the like and have alcohol-free options. I haven’t found it difficult to have a good time with friends and family in the pub.
Lime and soda is always the best option for an alcohol free day 😊
British Pubs serve soft drinks and beverages these days, and cater for everyone. No one is excluded.
Well done, Jamie. Yes, it's absolutely fine to go to a pub and not drink any alcohol. It's perfectly acceptable, just as it should be 😊
and btw also often offer cash machines too..
The one not mentioned here is the carvery. A great place to try the traditional British roast dinner. I think everyone below has covered your other questions. Whenever you're over, enjoy.
Off to a Toby carvery lunch myself Sunday - definitely sleep most of the afternoon 😋😂
Carvery is a pub meal. And in my experience wonderful. It gets us into a pub. If driving and visiting I have soft drinks. I am the sole driver. Next to zero public rural transport in Suffolk.
A good Sunday roast is an must in a pub and homemade pies also in an U.K. pub is a must in the U.K. if local pub grub food is an stable food in the U.K. to eat in the pub
@@juliadavisona must not an must
One thing you'll need to remember is that in 99% of British pubs, there's no waitress. You'll need to go to the bar to order your drinks and pay there and then. Even pubs selling food, you'll go to the bar, tell them your table number, and a waitress will bring your food over to you.
About drinks, don't ask for a club soda. It's just soda, usually from a tap. People usually get it with lime. J20 is very popular as a non alcoholic drink, it's a soft fruit based drink, various flavours. Britvic orange and lemonade is also popular, along with coke, Pepsi etc. And noone will bat an eyelid at you ordering these.
I personally love an old 16th century inn that’s kept it’s medieval charm and houses all the locals with a warm fire and local ales. It’s like stepping back in time in some of them. I’m a 30 something female btw! Nothing better than doing a big hike in the countryside and then going to an olde inn. Beautiful and nowhere else in the world does it like England.
Totally agree, fabulous atmosphere and very friendly too
Pub food is varied and really whatever you fancy at the time. Here are some suggestions: Bangers and mash (which may have a vegetarian option), fish and chips, they will also (generally) do curry, pizza, burgers, grilled food, salads, sandwiches, soup etc… Most places will have vegan/vegetarian and gluten free options. On Sunday’s they will often have a Sunday lunch instead of the usual menu, with the option of beef, pork, chicken and vegetarian. As for drinking…in the UK no one will bat an eye if you order non-alcoholic drinks…because it’s very socially unacceptable to drink and drive, so there are many designated drivers around. I’m not a big drinker myself and often just order soft drinks. So, Natasha you’ll be fine in any British pub.
There is a pub near to where we live that only sells Indian food.
Spot on. Well said.
Steak and Ale pie with Mash and vegetables is my goto with chocolate fudge cake and icecream
"Bangers"? Are you suicidal?
Yes Natasha you should still go into a pub. There's lots of different none alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. I hardly ever drink alcohol but I will occasionally still go in a pub but have something like a coke. The atmosphere is the main thing to experience with a pub.
Agree...many people go to pubs and don't drink especially drivers, lots of nice non alcoholic choices and many are family friendly not rowdy like many he showed....beer gardens are lovely on a nice day or evening and many pubs are dog friendly too....😊👍🇬🇧
Yes indeed. My late wife was a recovering alcoholic from her university days. Her father (who joined the Temperence Movement in the 30s) was a friend of Dr Bob, one of the founders of AA. My wife hadn't drunk alcohol since 40+ years, but whenever we visited the UK we loved lunch at the local pub, quiz nights there with friends. The first visit with our children, we introduced our kids to the delights of pub food (with the choices and quality varying greatly from place to place). So, certainly go and drink non-alcoholic beverages, but remember that cider in the UK is what US people call hard cider.
Try a pint of milk. They started selling it in pubs back in the 80s. Boy did I get stared at in my lycra cycling gear. Lol. X
Roses lime juice and soda for me.
I love ginger beer if I’m in non alcohol mode in a pub. Or elderflower cordial.
Wow! I did not know that you are a recovering alcoholic. 18 years is amazing and long may it continue. Thank you for your message at the beginning of this video. My brother has been clean and sober for 7 years. He luckily found the right support system to talk through hs issues and get help. He now for works for that same organisation and sponsors others with their recovery. We are so very proud of him.
An American friend of mine who isn't a big drinker was visiting the UK, he went to a pub and ordered a cider. He couldn't work out what he was drinking (I wasn't with him) and it was only when I later mentioned cider is alcoholic here that he realised what he'd ordered. He told me in the USA cider is a soft drink, he had quietly struggled to get this weird tasting drink down, all the while wondering what was wrong.
Hi Ladies. Another great show. Some reassurance. #1. You can get non alcoholic drinks in a British Pub. Water, Soda’s, fruit juices etc. #2. We have a country pub that’s frequented by the US Air Force Base up the road. They have their own darts team and are treated no different than anybody else. Yes we, the locals are older but we don’t judge them in anything other than a light hearted way. They do the same to us with the warm beer jokes etc. #3. Pub food tends to be basic such as Sausage & Mash, Pie and Chips, Chicken & Chips, Fish & Chips etc. As you can see most come with chips (fries) but you can get a basic salad and some even offer wider menus. So the British Pub is where everyone goes and is a melting pot of cultures, politics,sports and anything else that you want. We don’t judge, even if it seems we do. We welcome everyone. When you’re here try all the different types of pubs and see which one you like best.
Of course you are welcome in a pub! Soft drinks, non alcoholic drinks, it's no problem.
I very rarely drink alcohol with a pub meal anyway.
Strict drink driving laws have seen the upsurge in non-alcoholic drinks served in pubs. If they didn't serve non-alcoholic drinks the pubs would lose valuable alcohol sales from those being ferried around by the 'designated driver'
Yeah you are looking way to in to our drinking culture, I drink CocaCola and have rarely been barred for ordering such a non alcoholic drink, YOU WILL love the right pub, try a small drink in a few, and the food will be good, pubs need to serve great food
In fact my Bro in law started at a pub and now he is some product creator chef company, where are you going when you come to UK
I drink to forget
@@Zacky12345 I have a drink problem, I forget to drink! 🤣🤣🤣
Depending on the pub menu, ‘Pie of the Day’ (with chips) is usually a safe bet! But always ask which pie is Pie of the Day.
Natasha, you can definitely just drink non alcoholic drinks in a pub. Lots of people don't drink and there's always designated drivers.
I've not drunk for about 14 years for health reasons and just got sick of not being motivated due to the drinks effects next day and wasting time off. Quite happy to often go into a pub and order non alcoholic or water even and perhaps lunch. If you do get into a crowd buying rounds of drinks, people recognise if you are buying cheaper soft drinks and happily make allowance if you want to drop out of rounds as it would be unfair. Don't fall into the trap of drinking cola all night as the caffeine will keep you awake.
@@redf7209 I had a really great reception when i stopped drinking, used to get coke or sprite for free all night
Congratulations on your sobriety! ...takes an extremely courageous person to admit they have/had a problem with any addiction! ...18 plus years is amazing...Natasha I admire you for your honesty..❤🙏
I grew up with an Alcoholic ..he was a vicious one because he turned into a monster...I new what was to come so would shiver in a corner when the screaming started ..my mum was beaten black and blue...then I often got a beating ..the fear was palpable..the next morning he was full of apologies so we would forgive him! Some say that is wrong but honestly seeing a grown man cry because he had no idea what he had done was just sad! ..Alcohol can turn people into monsters! ....consequently I've never drunk alcohol because of what I saw as a child ...many people will say have a drink what's your problem which I hate because I never would put that precious on a person knowing there is often reasons! ...so to any one recovering or struggling with addiction I pray for you as it is an illness and often we use addiction to cover up pain in our lives and struggles as it is a blocker! ...I struggle with horrendous Anxiety caused by my childhood trauma so it not only affects the person but it affects the on looker ...stay strong ....🙏🙏❤❤
to answer Natasha's question, I was a barman in pubs for years, and yes plenty of people who didn't drink came in and were considered locals, there are a range of non alcoholic drinks, my personal favorite is the J20 range of fruit drinks, and in some of the more upscale places they even have non alcoholic cocktail lists for non drinkers and designated drivers.
non alc cocktails otherwise known as mocktails in a lot of drink menus
British pubs are unique!! Walk into any pub and there's always a welcome!! You can drink or not, it's up to you but whatever you'll be entertained!! I hope when you come over to visit you will get to enjoy our good old British pub!! Love you girls!!❤❤❤
On Sunday for lunch you will get a traditional “Sunday roast” usually beef sometimes pork, maybe lamb if you are lucky along with an assortment of vegetables and gravy. Depending on the pub they will range from barely edible to “oh my god how much of my soul do you want for another slice of that beef!”
Don't worry about not drinking, people won't even think twice about it.
Food wise, a carvery, a steak or a mixed grill are good options 😋
I'm surprised he didn't mention the many "Gastro pubs" we now have, as so very many of our pubs are closing due to them not being patronized enough, some are focusing more on "good" food rather than being a traditional old Boozer. Kind of a shame but better than having nothing at all. And as others have said of course you can go to any pub and not drink alcohol, no worries. Nothing wrong with having Fish and chips there either, but do get them from a Chippy too.😎✌
I guess you could say that the old wild west saloon was more akin to a British pub than a modern American bar.
Food can vary greatly in pubs. Some will serve basic, cheaper food, whilst other will have a more varied menu. There are also some pubs where the food served is more like going into a fine cuisine restaurant.
Yes, Natasha, its totally fine to say to the bar tender, 'what zero alcohol options have you got'? Most bars pride themselves on having a really good range of non-alcohol drinks
My wife goes to our local pub several times a week. She doesn't drink alcohol either but they have a few zero% cans, soft drinks and coffee/tea. She goes for social events like crochet group, not ladies nights!
I like that.
Many non drinkers go to the pub, like myself.
Another non-drinker here that loves pubs. Many are family-friendly and obviously nobody is serving alcohol to my 9-year-old!
You should definitely order something with chips in a pub, because they're proper British chips from a deep fryer. Pie, chips and peas is a pub classic. Alternatively, a pub is a great place to have a roast dinner on a Sunday, especially out in the countryside.
I've just found out my hubby's local has a book club! He also said though, the women were shouting across to each other about which books to read, and he sounded pretty disgusted at the row. Well I found his mates and him all talking about their motorbikes, just as bad!
@@margaretflounders8510 Our local is having a bike night on Monday. Should be interesting as bikers don't drink and ride, but do talk bikes all night!
As well as the smoking ban in the UK, Tony Blair's government also introduced all day opening in pubs, whereas before we had strict drinking times. 12 till 1500 then again from 1800 till 2300 last orders. This meant that the pubs were busier and the landlord didn't have to pay staff to be at work during quieter times, now they open at 12 and don't shut till midnight, maybe 0100. This for me is the biggest Factor in what is destroyed the classic British pub
Country pubs are lovely. Nowhere near as boring as some would expect. Just cosy and welcoming. Local pubs are similar but Friday and Saturday they tend to be busier with younger crowds or families. Children are welcome in bars that sell food. All pubs sell alcohol free beer and mixers or sodas. You'll love them. 😁 It's become quite trendy to not drink or smoke in this country. Nobody pressures anyone and noone will look twice at your choice of drink.
I haven't lived in the UK for well over a decade, and one of the things I really do miss (other than my family of course) is spending the day in a beer garden with family/friends.
Hi both. With the drink driving laws over here ,many people will go to a pub and have non alcoholic drinks as they are the designated driver. Ginger beer is always a good option! Also, don't get caught up with buying a round - it's lethal even among friends!
Certainly don't get involved in a round with people other than those you know & trust, if you're tee-total! It's not unheard of for certain irresponsible people to bring you a drink with alcohol in it, when you've specifically asked for a non-alcoholic drink.
The smoking ban did coincide with the decline of pubs but there were many other factors that contributed, not least the arrival of cheap beer in supermarkets and in home entertainment - satellite TV, DVD's and now streaming.
I don’t drink haven’t for 14 years but I regularly go to the pub. There is a big range of soft drinks to choose from even tea and coffee 💕
You can go to a pub Natasha, they sell soft drinks too. Also in Britain the pub is a social place to mingle and make friends, you can play pool, darts etc and have a great time without drinking alcohol. I love you girls.
Nothing better in winter than sitting next to an open fire in a pub with the pub dog curled up at your feet.
The American Werewolf in London reference is 100% bang on.
Any pub landlord will be quite happy with you drinking soft drinks in the pub. They make a heck of a lot more profit on soft drinks, compared to alcoholic drinks. Food wise, the daily special in a lot of pubs is a good place to start. Lots of pubs now also do a pretty good traditional roast Sunday lunch. So you can kill both of those with a single stone.
Pubs have so many stories to tell. Theres a really good 15 episode series by The Hairy Bikers called The Pubs that Built Britain. They go round the country highlighting historical pubs and sharing the stories connected to them and their significance to the area. From The Cavern in Liverpool where the Beatles made their name, to pubs connected to the Kray Twins in London, to pubs used for smuggling in Cornwall, to pubs that housed the homeless in Lincolnshire during WW2 when it was bombed due to it being the main RAF bomber base. Really good stuff. Not for going on here though.
Seen it. Great stuff.
Oh yes, would love to see that again.
@@no-oneinparticular7264 Who wouldn't?
Not to mention the oldest pub (inn) in England at the foot of Nottingham Castle - Ye Olde trip to Jerusalem
@@no-oneinparticular7264 the full series is up on Dailymotion
Literally every village no matter how small has a local pub which is the hub of the local community , most of them are very friendly to strangers , sell great pub grub and are the beating heart of most places . City dwellers regularly travel miles to the said places for the very reasons above .
mostly those pubs were built just after the church.
Just an indication the British pub has changed: Fifty years ago in my small town (population around 16,00) we had 72 pubs, none of which could you get food. Now town has a population of around 25,000 and only 28 pubs but they all serve food!
Pub food is generally a collection of British classics and that will often includes fish & chips. Other classics are Pie (steak & kidney or chicken & mushroom for instance) and Mash and Sausage & Mash. Some foreign foods have crept onto the classic menu over the years such as Lasagne (although this will be pre-made and superheated in a microwave so that it takes the skin off the roof of your mouth and it will be served with chips!) and Indian style Curry (which will be pretty bland and won't be anywhere near as good as what you'd get in any decent Indian restaurant). Also burger and chips is pretty common courtesy of the USA. Some pubs have become what we call gastro pubs. They will do more adventurous meals to a restaurant standard and the best ones have won Michelin stars and will do serious damage to your wallet. Hope that helps.
I was raised in a 16th century village pub , not the best environment for kids as you spend a lot of time alone , but as with most pubs it was the hub of the community , its where friendships are built. Definitely when I reached 18 and couid drink legally it was a blast 😅
I don’t drink alcohol and do go to pubs. It’s really not an issue these days, plenty of soft drinks available and most pubs do barista style coffee. I’ve occasionally been in pubs and inns where no-one was drinking alcohol. Lots of pubs rely on food sales these days.
Great info, thank you!!
Some pubs will have separate restaurants attached. You will get all sorts. A ploughmans lunch is always a good measure of the type of place you visit. The reason people say don't get fish and chips is that it won't be fresh in most cases. It's often frozen from wholesalers.
I go to the pub once or twice a month to meet up with friends, this is at lunchtime. We have a meal and one glass of wine then water or soft drinks. Any pub that serves food will also have a barista style coffee machine but you usually won't get an arty farty tarty double mocha choca syrup with all the bells and whistles more likely flat white, espresso, americano, latte/cappuccino.Non alcoholic drinks are available and you will usually find a wide selection inc. non alcoholic wine, beer and spirits. When ordering a drink ask for 'ice and a slice' ice and slice of fruit. In a soda water looks like gin and tonic.
Food varies a lot from everything with chips to gasto pubs. My local does brilliant pies with mash and veg, fish and chips, scampi, sausage and mash, steak various foreign dishes, thai, italian, french etc. Starters around £7 mains £14-25 pudding £3-5. One thing some places do is a miniature pudding with tea/coffee about £5/6. If you are going for sunday roast best to book in advance. Check websites to see opening hours and hours serving food. In the country may only serve food 12-2 and then in the evening.
And if you do nothing else have some sticky toffee pudding!
pubs definitely have a social and community aspect to them aside from just drinking, and it’s totally normal to not drink while in a pub. because even for those of us who do drink and go to the pub and go out to drink (which is most of us), this won’t be everytime - and everyone who does drink and/or go to the pub definitely has at least once gone there and not drank. sometimes it’s just about meeting up and/or socialising. sometimes people don’t drink because they’ve got work, because they’re driving, because they’re tired, not feeling etc… there’s a multitude of reasons. So it’s not uncommon, and no one would think anything or care.
My go to pub food is a Ploughmans. A ploughmans is traditionally cheese (ex. Cheddar, Stilton, brie), with crusty bread and butter, salad, pickled onions, (Branson) pickle, and sliced apple. Can also include ham. All the things people would have on hand while ploughing the fields
I like both types of music, Country and Western
Someone's been watching The Blues Brothers.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hi ladies, to answer a few of the many questions, not only are you very welcome as a non drinker i find great fun being the sober observer to antics that are going on around you , plus you must visit a country pub and order a ploughmans lunch, this will consist of a local hard cheese with fresh bread, homemade artisan pickles and chutney ,salad leaves and more,😊
Can't beat a old country pub with a pint of cider and a ploughman's lunch.
I have a friend who's recovering, and every time they go to a pub, they just tell the barman that they're the dedicated driver and it takes all of the awkwardness out of refusing alcohol.
Trying to explain pub cultures - and they do vary depending on where the pub is, with a Mile End Road pub being very different from one in a village in Wiltshire or on an island in Scotland - is akin to attempting to explain what jambalaya or hominy taste like without sampling either. It's an existential logic thing 😂.
Definitely go to a pub even if you don’t drink!!!!! There are so many options - soda and lime is a good option. You can even have a cup of tea!!
Natasha well done for keeping off alchol for 19 years well done, and the little public awerness at the beginning 👍
This was a good look at the differences between the pubs ,do you want a quiet drink and chat /. A meal with a few drinks/ , lots of drinks and a party atmosphere . There are pubs for your every mood . . most places that do food do a half decent roast dinner . Lots of people order soft drinks not a problem. I think you both will enjoy trying all the different public houses the uk have to offer ❤ (it was fine )
I always have fish and chips when I go to a pub, and as for not drinking alcohol, I drive most of the time so I won't have alcohol and will usually have a soft drink or a coffee or a mug of tea, and that's perfectly fine and I still have a good time, so feel free beautiful ladies and enjoy
I have pubs in my town that have two separate entrances because one was for women and the other men. It's like two separate bars joining at the middle so the staff can move between them 😊
Some pubs are exactly like he said but most pubs you go in it doesn't matter what you drink it's nice and chilled and a homely feel, especially country pubs .
Since 2000, a quarter of pubs have closed in the UK, totalling more than 13,000 locations. There are a number of causes. There was the smoking ban. Then there was the "Breathalyzer" which had a disastrous effect on "Country" Pubs that people generally drove to. As a group of lads we took it in turn to be the "Non Drinker" on the night who drove. Plenty of soft drinks are available and you would not look out of place. COVID also had a large effect. Probably the biggest reason that pubs are closing is price. The cost of a pint. The average cost has risen from about £3.68 in 2020 to about £4.39 in Q1 2023 and much more expensive in London and major City Pubs. It is much cheaper to buy from a Supermarket and have a get together at home. People used to spend all evening in the Pub. Now a lot simply use it as a stopping of point on the way to other venues.
The BBC did a pub culture comedy a few years ago called "Early Doors", set in a small Manchester Pub that had seen better days. I'd definitely recommend watching an episode or two on YT to explore pub culture further. You'll see all the characters talked about in the video. Here's a link to Ep1: th-cam.com/video/RfCGtaQewSM/w-d-xo.html
Hilarious and underrated comedy😂
Love that show!! 🇬🇧🤩
Brilliant series!
If you need to eat as opposed to want to eat, you can get fed in a Weatherspoons, which I would choose over a MacDs where I go hungry when with the grandkids.
Highly recommend Early Doors too.
Closest I’ve come to a traditional British town/city pub in America is an Irish bar (Connellys NYC)
In most town pubs you get a public and lounge bar, (lounge is the quieter one).
This video is pretty good representation.
You can drive down almost any country road and find a gem of a pub… most small villages have more than one pub.
As for Natasha going to a pub look at it like Cheers, a place to meet friend’s, after work etc. it’s fine to order a soft drink as usually some groups will always have a designated driver.
When you come to England/UK find a nice pub sit and have food from a ploughman’s lunch to a beef & ale pie with mash and veg.
Came away from this video with a new appreciation and understanding of British Pubs, and a strong desire to listen to Pink Floyd music!😂 Natasha, 20 years well done! Nothing but mad respect for your efforts and continued success!
This should interesting to see the difference between the two countries. I love a country pub with a log fire it’s so cosy ❤️
Horses for courses, different pubs for different people and uses! Music pubs , restaurant style pub, micro brewery pub, country pub, and city centre pub are just a few. The building, tenure, landlord, and of course the locals all come together to create a great pub culture.
I think the trick is to see what the place is advertising outside and in the window... Is it a Sunday Roast, or Curry night. Is it quiz night or a live act maybe they have a garden or family space. If you go in looking for the thing they are proud of... you are winning from the start. I would have no problem asking for a soft drink, or Tea, an Orange Juice with Lemonade. I usually drink a Shandy and ask for more lemonade than beer. A Pasty, Pie or anything with roast potatoes is excellent with or without alcohol. I travel the world and always ask the local people 'what is good here'? Time and time again, it is a brilliant way to open a conversation in a way that let's them feel good about themselves and I get great tips and try things I could so easily have missed.
Even if you don’t drink, you should still go in. Just go and experience the vibe. They do tons of non-alcohol drinks. Tell them you’re the designated driver, you’ll normally get a free drink in most places.
Short of walking into the "Slaughtered Lamb" on a walking tour of the moors you will be welcome in most pubs.
😂😂
Don't stray off the path.
You don't have to drink alcohol in order enter a pub, pub lunches-dinner with a soft drink.
I too am a former drinker, but I still meet up with my brother for a lunch
IN A PUB!
GOOD SHOW
The Country pub across the road from where my mum lives, is family and dog friendly, serves good food, In fact they have an all day drum and bass and house rave going on in the very large gardens tomorrow 26/08/2023. It was called the Bear, and they used to have a live bear in a cage in the garden back in the 1970's, along with loads of other animals. It's now called the Deers Rest. There are loads of wild deer that roam about locally. I take my mum out every Sunday, she 86 now and Drum and Bass is not really her thing, so we go into town to the Golden Lion, it dates back to 1415, they have live singers every Sunday in the garden area. People get mum up to have a dance, and I have a few dances as well. Then later we go the the local 'Spoons for a few hours to meet more friends, then at 8pm, a few of us (including mum) go to a Kareoke night at another pub just down the road from the 'Spoons'. We make a full day of it.
The banning of smoking in pubs was the best thing ever as far as I'm concerned. I used to hate going home from a pub stinking of stale smoke, with burn holes in my shirt from someone else's carelessly held cigarette; it was horrible and off-putting. Plus, the effect passive smoking had on my lungs. It's good for my health and enjoyment, as a drinker who doesn't smoke, that smokers have to go outside or have a separate area.
It was the best thing to happen Ian.
The odd thing is that I gave up smoking some years ago, however the one thing I miss is being in a pub and occasionally going out for a smoke.
I think it is because when you go out for a smoke, there will be a couple or so of other smokers, you join and chat with a new group of which you are a part for a few minutes.
Much better than smoking in the pub.
Totally agree! The amount of times I got burnt on my shoulders from people walking past, and that smell would get stuck in your hair and clothes. 🤢 Best thing ever to ban it from pubs. The only thing now they all go and stand outside the door to smoke so as soon as anyone opens it, you get a great waft of smoke come through. I'd like to see it banned in all public places, I don't want to inhale other people's smoke. Should make it a law you can only smoke in your own home. Dirty habit, can't stand it.
Ironically if you want to find out the gossip the smoking shelters are the places to be!!
Should have had smoking and non smoking pubs +employees choosing
Hi Natasha, I had the same problem as you with alcohol. I have been clean for 27 years now. I have been going to the pub every Thursday night for the last 6 years with my friends and drink coke. You are respected because people think you are the nominated driver. The thing about smoking is that all smokers go outside where you can smoke with other people, and you can have a different conversation as everyone is friendly.
Pub etiquette -When you go to a pub do not expect to be served at your table. You will need to go the bar and pay for your drinks as you buy them. Also if ordering food the overwhelming majority of pubs will expect you to go to the bar once again to order your food after you have looked at the menu (this is not the same in restaurants). You will pay for it at the bar before receiving it - so remember your table number (there will be a table number on the table you sit at). The waiter/waitress will bring the food to you then leave you alone. No-one will rush you to eat your meal (except perhaps in central London) and you will probably not see the waiter again until everyone has finished their meals (unless you need them for something). They will come clear your table and in most pubs leave you alone to carry on drinking (though this can depend on whether the pub is really popular for eating and is the sort of place you need to book a table to eat - even then you can just go the bar area and carry on drinking).Tipping is not really a thing in Pubs.
Natasha, you can go into a bar and not have an alcoholic beverage. No judgement and no pressure to order alcoholic beverages. In summer, I remember sitting outside in the pub garden (in Hampshire where my grandparents live) with my parents as a kid with a fizzy drink. Pub culture is different depending on the pub. In the country, we would drive past the pub, and before we arrived at my grandparents home, everyone in the village knew we were visiting from London (even though we hadn't lived in London for years). The old 'uns were typically farmers dressed in tweed jackets and wearing a cap. They knew all the gossip about what was going on.
A pub in Southend was in a shopping precinct that was roofed over in 2007 and when the smoking ban came in punters would have had to walk up the stairs and out of the main doors to have a smoke. The landlord decided it would be better just to shut the pub. Goodbye Cork and Cheese, we miss you😢.
That was my favourite pub, many happy years there and probably the only pub I will ever miss
I used to love going into the C&C. Great atmosphere. As you say much missed.
You can order coffee, tea or pop. It doesn't need to be alcohol. My sister is a recovering alcoholic. Although she doesn't go to the pubs much, she still does with family and friends. She normally drinks coffee.
So to answer some of your question:
Primary one, “should I even go in?”
Yeah. Got to remember the pub experience isn’t just about the drink it’s the atmosphere. Get a good pub around football season and sit back and listen to the chats and calls and just the liveliness inside. It’ll definitely get crowded and you’ll definitely feel the wait and push to the bar, but at the same time, it’s the atmosphere inside that’s everything to feel.
2. “What should I eat/drink?” Truthfully it comes down to you, but bangers and mash, steak pie and up here in Scotland, Haggis, Neeps and Tatties is quite a good shout.
As for when it comes to drink just pick up your favourite choice or ask about the local and try it. Depending on how busy the guys are a lot would be happy to offer ya a try of one to see if you like it or not and if you do buy a pint.
For non drinkers go for whatever but note that most stuff will be draft so no “club soda” but just “hey pint of coke please”.
Edit: also yes there are a number of alcohol free options these days, so if you want one just ask.
3. When your going into pubs just act casual. Don’t do the traditional yank think of “oh ahh” but simply either find a seat first or head up to the bar and buy a couple drinks then find a seat.
Also if you like pool and they have a table, see what the coinage is on it and see if you can split down for a few rounds in it - do note rules on the table vary by pub but traditionally a lot will play winner stays on with challenger playing. It’s actually a quick way to make friends with people as you get some drinks down ya while also showing your pool skills (especially if you can win the table and stick on). Same applies for the darts, get good and you can stick around and play for a while while having a laugh. Tho do be aware their are the “local” and you will find they turn up, quite a few turn out to be more professional than you’d think.
4. Big one, always remember that 90% of these places don’t have waiters or waitresses. It’s the pub owner, maybe a second and third hand and a chef. These places run low on staff so don’t expect to get served sitting at a table.
Always head to the bar, make your order and pick ‘em up there. Also as someone who works on a bar, please always order everything at once vs separately and if you want guiness make sure it’s first on the list so they can start a pour, get the rest of your order and by the time that’s done it’s settled enough to get the rest in.
Same goes for food order at the bar but depending on the staff, you might be asked to come up for it or most will run it over to you.
Tho on a busy night - especially football nights - best suggestion is to eat out before and just go for drinks, cause depending how big the kitchen is, it can be a delayed wait especially if theirs a good number of orders in.
5. Especially normal in country pubs, if you notice a younger audience, don’t bring it up. It’s quite standard for those small town and country village pubs to have alot of people across the ages inside them.
Not all will be drinking booze, but there will be a number of them who do. Best suggestion just recognise that these people ain’t just random youths, but town/village youth. The owner will likely know them as will most of the people in there so if they start getting too off they’ll step in. So don’t worry.
Hi Natasha and Debbie. In Northern Ireland we go into the pub with our friends. Maybe after work, at the weekend or for celebrations. We have a laugh, tell our stories and put the world to right. Tourists are more than welcome. About our encounter with Americans. My husband I were sitting in a very old pub in Belfast. The Crown Bar, eating a meal (Guinness Pie) before heading home on a Friday night when this group of Americans arrived in off a cruise ship compete with cameras. They asked if we were locals and could they take our photos (great specimens we were) 😅 and what was our meal. We all had a laugh and joined them later to have Irish Coffees and to answer any of their questions. Everyone had a great night and it was near closing time before we headed home. They were staying at the hotel across the road. So come to Northern Ireland were you will be shown the best of hospitality. Love your show.
Hello Ladies, I’m really looking forward to seeing this episode today, should be an interesting learning experience, see how different the Pubs are between the UK and US. Thank you both, for your continued hard work, and great videos. You’re awesome and amazing!! Much love xxxx
My favourite pub food is either the hotbeef and onion sandwich or the roast dinner.
Just ask what soft drinks they have. There'll be plenty
Pub food: honestly order anything you fancy. I live nearer the coast, and a lot of pubs use fresh fish caught that morning. So the menu depends on location. Pubs also have different ways to order, either order at the bar or table service. Just ask at the bar when you go in.
Drinking: everyone is welcome. I don't really drink, and you won't be looked upon any different for ordering a non alcoholic drink.
Pub atmosphere: if you come over in the summer you defo have to find a pub with a pub garden. Literally an outside area, sun, food and drinks.
There's usually always a stag and hen do in there, and they're always fun. People also take no crap in a pub, it's all fun, but if people start messing they will get kicked out. That's why it's a nice environment.
Weatherspoons: I don't class weatherspoons as a proper pub. It is though cheap and nice.
Hey Natasha and Debbie, i have been clean for 9 years, and going strong. I will say that they are tea and coffee sold in most pubs. Club Soda is mostly like fizzy Water, but soft drinks are ways on sell. Has when it comes to food, its really based on where you go has each are have they own style of food, but every where will have some basic pub food. I would recommend having Roast dinner or even a Local meal, that is for that area. Fish and Chips deffo need to be from a chippy.
I think if you want to go into a pub I would pick one that serves food. I don’t drink and although they do serve like coke or orange or soda water etc I don’t really go in anymore. Any meal they have is good but if you’re having a dessert, sticky toffee pudding! ❤
I don’t really drink but love a proper pub
I love all music. Love Hendrix, blues, classical, opera, bla bla etc but now I'm getting older I love country. From Hank Williams to Johnny Cash and Lucinda Williams. Some great new artists too. Love it. 🤠👍❤
On your visit to uk, if you stay in one area (away from the centre of a big city) for a while, first day, have one drink in lots of different pubs, chat to bar staff, people at the bar, people who are wanting to chat to you, to get a feel for which pub you like best, then go to that pub every day while you are there and you will be considered a local.....
My favourite place to sit in a traditional pub is at the bar, you meet so many interesting people..
Fish and chips is fine to order at a pub, but ask what's good, or what local special they might suggest. Fish and chips in a proper chippy will be different, make sure you go to a recommended chippy, as some are not great. Please try chips with chip shop curry sauce - its divine!
Side note - not sure anyone would know what a club soda is.....
Where I grew up in the countryside the pub was very much like An American Werewolf in London, definitely only locals. Watch Midsomer Murders to get a better idea as to what a country is like. It was the kind of place that if dad was late home for his dinner mum could call the pub and tell the guy behind the bar to tell him to get his backside home, and all the guys had that happen to them at least once. If you were ever looking for someone you would always ask in the pub if they'd been in or could they pass on a message if they turned up. Most of the locals had their own glass/tankard that was only used by them and they nearly always have their own seat where no one else dared to sit. In the countryside it really is the heart of the community. I don't drink but going into the pub isn't just about drinking it's about the atmosphere, no one takes any notice.
we had a propper very old world country pub , it was built as a farmhouse originally and was at the end of a mile long country lane like a cul de sac so 0 passing trade the only people there were locals and, farmers , then they built an outdoors persuit centre and caravan park we went in last week and they had partitioned a wall a bricked in the coal fire .... faceless big business clueless about what country pubs are all the soul has been torn out of the building
I live in a remote Cornish village and our pub is still like that. 😂 If someone walks in who is not a local the pub goes silent and everyone looks at them wondering who they are and what they are doing there. 😂😂😂
@@shakeyhandsshedmodelrailwa2494 Sounds about right, a pub a few miles from where I grew up was a fantastic country pub and had won many awards, it had low ceilings wonky floors, all the walls were slightly off, loads of dark intimate corners, just really full of character and history, the couple who had it for years decided to retire, a chain bought it and they literally gutted it, all the intimate dark corners gone, the floor was level, all the beams taken out and the ceilings raised. Totally soulless, no character and oddly enough does nowhere near as much trade, as people have deserted it.
it is almost as if the people running these places never went in a pub@@sammic7492
Please please please....do a reaction about The Battle of Bamber bridge. I doubt this true story would have been taught in American school's esp during Black history month but its an insight into how the US African American solders had been treated during their stay in England and included the first American causality of WW2 who was shot by a fellow American. Very emotional yet very important and educational.
Yeah, basically Bamber Bridge had two major American units in the area, a white MP unit and a black engineering/support unit. The MP unit informed the pubs in Bamber Bridge that they needed to segregate who they served. The following day most of the pubs in Bamber Bridge has signs up saying 'Black Troops Only'. There was a bit of a kerfuffle.
Please note, I'm not saying Britain didn't/doesn't have a race problem, it did/has. Never explicitly government mandated though.
A pub is a social place where you can get a cup of coffee, right the way through to wines and spirits. Most pubs will allow children and dogs and some have play areas for kids whilst mom and dad enjoy a drink. Pub lunches are popular, from a Ploughman’s (cheese board with pickles and breads) to sandwiches and small plates to a full roast dinner ( especially on a Sunday). Evening meals will have a variety of offerings, and usually a “special” not on the regular menu. Some have theme nights such as steak nights or curry evenings. Everyone welcome and typically friendly atmosphere. Country pubs ( and some city pubs) usually have outdoor space or pub garden, which is especially nice in the summer. I worked as a publican for some years and all types of people would come into the pub, from families, office workers, regulars who were in most days, tourists and everyone in between. Quiz nights and local clubs meeting place too.
I work in a pub. Many customers don't order alcohol. Walkers come in for cups of tea or coffees. Some people order soft drinks with meals or just want a coke or, more popularly a lime and soda. Fine. They are customers. There has been no smoking allowed indoors in the UK for at least 10 years now.
I remember a British TV show where a couple of celebrities went on a pub crawl on trains as many stations have pubs. Maybe someone recalls it.
I can't remember the name of the program but it may be the one with James May (Top Gear) and Oz Clarke (wine expert) who started at my local, the West Riding at Dewsbury train station and visited the station pubs on the Trans Pennine route as far as Stalybridge. It's now a bit of a 'rites of passage' locally. Can get very busy in the summer months.
These days there are plenty of non booze options and the majority of pub landlords frown on excessive drunkenness.
They don't frown upon taking the money to gat us drunk.
I like Hayseed Dixie, so I do both types of music!
Whilst most traditional pubs have wooden beams and a bar made of old seasoned oak (or similar) creating a cosy homely feel, Weatherspoons is what's referred to as a 'plastic pub'! They're very new (usually heavily refurbished older buildings) with bright lights, polished metal and acres of tables, it's the epitome of "stack 'em high and sell 'em cheap"! Drinks and food are generally a lot cheaper than other pubs and since there is such a cookie cutter vibe to them you know what you're going to get.
Long, long ago, there were Inns, Taverns and ale-houses / public houses. Ale houses sold Ale (and later, beer) often brewed on the premises by the lady of the house. When a batch was ready, a green branch would be hung up outside - ultimate origin of th pub sign. Painted signboards came a bit later,and came down from Taverns and Inns. Taverns sold drink made from fruit, eg Wine and Cider.(grapes were grown in England until the climate changed around 1320). Taverns were a cut above ale houses. Inns of course offered accommodation to man and beast, as well as food and drink. Today, most pubs don't just sell drink. As well as pub games of various kinds they offer food ranging from crisps to chef--produced meals (gastro-pubs) quiz nights, comedy nights, live music, sometimes juke boxes and big screen TVshowing sport, anything to turn an honest penny and keep going.
The smoking ban was a godsend for me.
I'd stopped going to the pub because of the smoke, and it was great to be able to get out again.
As others have said, you'll be able to get non alcoholic drinks in any pub, but be aware that the pub markup over supermarket prices seems shocking.
There are frequently two ways to get sparkling water: either as a bottle of sparkling water (you can also get still water) or on tap as soda water. There is another option if you want to annoy the landlord, and that's to order tap water. The licencing laws force any establishment that serves alcohol to provide tap water free of charge. This is to help prevent dehydration.
But it's only the tap water that is free of charge (it's the letter of the law). The moment you ask for ice or any fruit cordial in the tap water, the law no longer applies as its now not tap water, so a charge can be made.
Another type of pub was missed off the video, and that's the restaurant that thinks it's a pub. It's a bit like 'spoons, but without the crowds and the extreme drunkeness. You'll get a variety of qualities of food, depending on the quality of restaurant. It's a good way to have a quiet night out.
Also don't get fooled by a pub carvery. In many ways it looks like an "All You Can Eat" restaurant. You take your plate to the serving area and the server will slice the freshly cooked meat and place it on your plate. After that, you can put as much as you like on your plate from the vegetable trays.
BUT
Be aware that you can only go to the servery once. A good carvery will have different sized plates, and the meat server will put more meat on your plate, according to plate size.
Anyway, I hope you get to try put the many different styles of pub we have here.
Good luck and enjoy!
yes it wasn't nice smelling your smoked clothes the next day
Btw, Wetherspoons, with its 900 or so outlets, is to modern British pub culture what Walmart is to the US retail experience. It's convenient, cheap, huge, a bit tacky, and it's where most people claim never to go, but do so anyway - simply because it's everywhere. It's the Starbucks of alcohol, but cheaper, far more kitchy, and even more devoid of local colour.
I don’t go in Wetherspoons!
Pub food is usually rustic restaurant food, but if it's a chain, the food will likely be frozen and microwaved to order. If you are in a pub for food, I'd recommend asking what is fresh or what they would recommend. Other than that I'd just order what you feel like eating. Traditional pub grub would be meat pies; ham, egg and chips; burgers, shepherd's pie, etc. Lunches will be sandwiches or, if you're lucky, a ploughman's. Aside from the above, as I mentioned earlier, order what you feel like in the moment.
My wife isn’t a pub goer. She doesn’t drink alcohol but if we go in a pub in the UK or abroad on holiday she would drink a ‘soft drink’ eg lime and soda (or soda and lime), tonic, either diet or normal or even a Diet Coke. Pubs do other alcohol free or low alcohol drinks. Just ask the staff. It’s quite normal for someone to buy an alcohol free drink in a pub. It’s rare for men to drink half a pint of beer. It’s very likely to be a pint. Country pubs are frequented by ‘locals’ and passing trade. The nearby pub that you frequent is known as your ‘local’.
I remember the smoking ban coming in, we all sat in the pub smoking until 6am when the ban came into effect.
The biggest thing you noticed in the weeks after was just how bad the pubs all smelt, stale beer and urine. 🤮
When I was young the pubs in the UK did not have all day drinking so they opened until 3 in the afternoon then closed again until six when they opened again and closed at 11pm (even shorter hours on a Sunday). Pubs used to be packed then especially at weekends - In town centre pubs you had to fight (not literally) to get to the bar to be served because they were so busy. But it was where you went to meet your friends, go on a date, try to pick-up girls or boys (depending on your preference). You also had your local pubs - those that were near where you lived where you knew everyone - because they were from the local area of town and you knew the mums, dads, grandparents, younger ones etc. It was where you heard the local gossip and news.
My local is the Moonface Brewery & Tap. It opens every day except Monday & Tuesday, and is a community focal point. It brews real ales, and once a month it has an acoustic night where people perform. It welcomes children, and dogs, it is a great friendly place.
Yes they do and it’s not frowned upon.
Took the words, you order what you want and you can have anything in 00% there are no barriers and believe me you can go in any pub and order what you want! The respect is equal!