Pubs - 3

Pubs were originally houses opened up to the public.  Mostly they were in the country where people were very poor and the heating and lighting of their homes was difficult.  Therefore they could go to the pub where a fire was always burning and  candles were alight.  For a few pennies they could buy a pint or a half of beer, and wile away the evening with other people rather than in their cold and dark cottages.

City pubs have always been a little different.  Whereas the "landlord" of the country pub always lived in the establishment, often the city pub landlord locked the place up or employed someone to stay there after closing time.  Also city pubs did most of their business in the daytime and tended to be quiet in the evenings.  Things have certainly changed in the UK these days, with many pubs up for sale - particularly in the country and suburbia.  There are many reasons for this and next time we'll cover the demise of one of my favorite institutions.