I find it difficult to pass any pub without wondering what it's like inside, what beers are on, what the punters are like. I've had some of my best moments (and worst) in pubs, I used to even like the smell of a pub - that mix of stale beer, fag smoke and cheap perfume, heady stuff missing something these days. I like the way you can turn up and just sit on your own or get dragged into conversations with complete strangers, I like the jokes, the banter, the daft signs, the bits of junk that have some story behind them, the postcards from Benidorm, the walls of photos of boozed up customers, I even enjoy in a twisted way the pretensions of some places, the arty bogs of others. The "people watching" of those little human dramas that happen more in pubs than other places, the retelling of stories, suitably embellished, of those incidents tragic or comic witnessed in the pub. And the history, the feeling you're doing what a dozen generations have done here before; the celebrations, the events, the simple marking of life's good or bad bits. It's just not the same drinking anywhere else, the pub is just right.
I find it easy especially if the signage includes a Ram, Griffin or Hart and also banners for BT and/or Sky Sport have stopped me.
I do enjoy people watching though. I read an interview somewhere with the bloke who does the Real Ale Twats in VIZ. As you would expect he is a Real Ale drinker and when in a pub he is watching for inspiration. I wouldn't mind betting that some of the inspiration comes from the Whitley Bay JDW.
As for the cigarette smoke, I'm so glad that is a thing of the past. I hope that vaping goes the same way, although many pubs don't allow it.
Dog Pram2.JPG
The pram is for the dog!
Sometimes, having passed a pub for over 25 years, I venture in to see what it's like and rather wish I hadn't.
I'm going to ratchet up the tone (NOT!) of this thread by announcing that I went to the pub today, not just to drink a load of different beers but to also get my Will witnessed.
I feel really proud that due to the RWhites virus one of the witnesses was from the E17 Rose & Crown. He actually believed me when I told him that I was a certainty for a Blue Plaque which would make him an international celebrity.
I'm hoping to survive this albeit battered and bruised and possibly with a bag of shite hanging from my gut.