Interesting as to where the boundary lies between influencing choice by having an extensive presence and being so ubiquitous as to be completely boring. And balancing the need to have what everyone else has and is therefore in demand, with the opportunity to offer something different. Mind you, the average publican probably has little say in what is foisted upon them.
On leaving the bar, I felt a strong blow to the back of my head. Turning round, I discovered it was the pavement
...which kind of brings us back to where we started, with "becks, peroni and amstel"!
Some people are reassured by the names of beers they recognise. I can sympathise to a certain extent, as the last time I ordered a beer in Paris the waiter reeled off a string of names that I didn't recognise, the sole exception being Amstel. I've no idea what I missed out on. And surely this attitude to some extent explains the otherwise hard to understand passion for Bass in certain people. Yes, it's owned by a foreign company with no sympathy for the beer style; yes, it's a shadow of its former self; yes, it's brewed in a different brewery and in a different town, etc, etc. But let's celebrate it anyway (and woe betide anyone who criticises it - see #42ff).
Boring is reassuring!
Come On You Hatters!
Written by Christine Chipperfield on the 15th of August 2011, the last sentence.
"The pub is under new management and is definitely worth a visit. Good food, warm welcome and a great atmosphere. Please ignore any reviews before November 2011!"
The Carpenters Arms.
"Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
-W.C.Fields