Native British drinking establishments appeared long before the formation of the state of Great Britain itself. A network of roads was quickly established during the Roman occupation of the land. Enterprising merchants began to open drinking establishments everywhere so that traveling people could take a break, wait out the rain, or find out where they were and whether they had lost their way. Over the years, the Romans left, but the pubs stayed. There were so many establishments that the king had to ban more than one pub per village. Originally, pubs did not serve beer, but ale. Each housewife brewed this drink herself, according to her own secret recipe. There were two varieties of ale: light, often drunk instead of water to quench thirst, and strong.
Having dealt with the question of how pubs arose, it is worth paying attention to the traditional arrangement of establishments. Today there are no special requirements for the interior, and each owner arranges it to his taste. Classic establishments of this kind with a centuries-old history have traditional features.
First, of course, it is a bar counter, it not only serves as a kind of table for serving drinks, but also divides the room into a place for visitors, bartender or other workers. It is worth noting that in traditional British pubs there are no waiters. In general, the only member of staff (apart from the chef) is the barman, who takes orders, pours drinks, serves food, often listens to tipsy customers and is a source of local news and gossip.
Another indispensable element of a pub is the wide windowsills, which visitors often use as seating.
There should also be a menu board with information written on it with chalk about the availability of certain drinks, food, as well as prices. In case it is a pub for fans, while watching matches, the score of the game is written on such boards. As for food, they are traditionally considered drinking establishments, so the menu includes beer snacks.
In addition to traditional pubs, where people primarily drink beer and ale, there are various types of such establishments, like gastropubs. The term “gastropub” suggests a focus on high-quality, innovative food, making them more popular with gourmets than with typical pub-goers.
Another type is the inn, which not only serves drinks and food but also offers accommodation. These establishments, sometimes simply referred to as inns, provide guests with a place to sleep. In Australia, such pubs are commonly known as hotels. Despite the name, they generally offer only basic amenities, such as food and lodging, without additional facilities.
