PUBS

S.W.M.B.O. and I went out for a quiet drink the other evening.  Being English we often indulge in that sort of behavior. Going to the pub is something that many people of our age have done all our lives.  And yet it seems that all is not well in the publican industry.  The clientele are getting smaller and the age of it is growing older.  Young people prefer to drink at home or perhaps partake of other stimulants.

Of course, the concept of a Public House has become outdated, and here in the US, mostly no one lives over the shop, but lock the place up when closing and go elswhere to live - these are taverns.  They don't have quite the same atmosphere, as they are not someone's home; just a business.  Even worse the owner sometimes doesn't even run the place - usually a disaster!

Years ago when a publican or a landlord, as they usually called in the UK, left his pub and moved away there was often a small wake held. No matter how good the new landlord was it would never be the same; and the locals mourned that.

There is a constant battle in England as to which is the oldest pub.  Two main contenders are "The Trip to Jerusalem" in Nottingham, which is dated from sometime in the 14th century; the other, "The Fighting Cocks" in St. Albans.  This claims to have had a hostelry on its site since the Romans arrived there in AD 49.

I wrote a column about this subject some years ago; with a little digging, you can find it in the archives at www.sbsun/trevorstravels  There's also a podcast if you fancy.