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Thread: What makes a 'great' pub?

  1. #1
    Glass Half Empty General Staal's Avatar
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    Default What makes a 'great' pub?

    This is what I look for in a pub, in no particular order:

    Beer choice
    Service
    'Comfort'

    In short, I ask myself the question, could I spend the afternoon here, by myself? If the answer is yes, then, to me, its a 'great' pub.

    I can surprise myself. For example, my 'local' is the Queslett, a generic Ember in with up to 6 real ales on - yet I feel at home in there, where I don't usually feel like that in other Embers.

    Soupy and I went on a crawl around Mere Green. We went into the Pint Pot which is an unspoilt 70s pub situated between an affluent area and a council estate. The residents of the estate use the Pint Pot while the 'well off' go to the Pubcos in and around Sutton. So in the 'Pot, we were surrounded by workmen in overalls and lads in tracksuits. There was only Old Speckled Hen as a real ale and Ansells Mild and Bitter on tap. Yet it was an incredibly warm and friendly pub. As 'great' as any other. I am not being condescending here, just contrasting the two pubs.

    Yet the Anchor in Birmingham, a renowned real ale pub leaves me cold. I rarely use it.

    I suppose how I feel about pubs comes down to just that - gut instinct.

    Do others have some kind of formula, or is it just gut feeling that makes you want to stay in a place?

  2. #2
    Pussy Galore No 1 Oggwyn Trench's Avatar
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    My favorite pubs are all very different from each other , the only thing they really share is a decent atmosphere , good beer comes into it but some of my favorites may only have one real ale on (Red Lion , Wrockwardine Wood , Tetley if your lucky , John Smiths if your not) .
    The pub can have the best beer with great service (it helps i know) but that dont make it a great pub if the atmospheres crap (Admiral Benbow in Shrewsbury comes to mind)
    Theres a Man with a Mullet going Mad with a Mallet in Millets !

  3. #3
    Former Pubs Galore Coder
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    The ones I have really enjoyed is the atmosphere. Being able to mingle with people you wouldn't normally meet and still feel comfortable is a key part of that.

  4. #4
    This Space For Hire gillhalfpint's Avatar
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    I like to see decent beer choice, and then to feel comfortable with the pub atmosphere. Feeling able to miss the planned bus and stay for a couple more means that is a great pub to me.

    PS. Providing (when in Cornwall) you know there will be another bus!!
    Last edited by gillhalfpint; 28-07-2010 at 09:34. Reason: PS added

  5. #5
    Spritzer Swallower
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    That's weird because The Anchor is the pub I'm most likely to go to on my own!

  6. #6
    Real Ale Drinker HTM69's Avatar
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    A blend of traditional and contemporary (though not too much of the latter), with a half-decent array of real ales. Customer-base will ideally be varied in age and the music, rocking.

  7. #7
    This Space For Hire arwkrite's Avatar
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    Comfortable chairs ( not sofas ) as my back aches when standing to long. An "Interesting " crowd without their being too much of a chance of violence. The building or decor does not bother me , an interesting picture is welcome to stare at in case you nailed by the pub bore. ( WHO ,ME ? ) A good ale or two, if its good I will take whats going. I have a thing against horse brasses on walls but thats just personal.

  8. #8
    Glass Half Empty General Staal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant View Post
    That's weird because The Anchor is the pub I'm most likely to go to on my own!
    I have never been impressed by the Anchor. Can't knock the beer choice, but I have never had a really good pint there. I find the staff so-so, and some of the customers look at me funny, which I should expect really as I'm a funny looking guy!

  9. #9
    I'll stay on me own Andy Ven's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by General Staal View Post
    some of the customers look at me funny, which I should expect really as I'm a funny looking guy!
    Well if you're anything like your profile photo, who could blame them?
    Waes hael!

  10. #10
    Glass Half Empty General Staal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Andy Ven View Post
    Well if you're anything like your profile photo, who could blame them?
    I am a handsome man. I must be. My mother has said I am!

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