- published: 04 Jun 2012
- views: 8569
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain,Ireland,Australia, Newfoundland and New Zealand. There were approximately 53,500 public houses in 2009 in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller villages no longer have a local pub. In many places, especially in villages, a pub can be the focal point of the community. The writings of Samuel Pepys describe the pub as the heart of England.
The history of pubs can be traced back to Roman taverns, through the Anglo-Saxon alehouse to the development of the modern tied house system in the 19th century.
Historically, public houses have been socially and culturally distinct from cafés, bars, bierkellers and brewpubs. Most public houses offer a range of beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks. Many pubs are controlled by breweries, so cask ale or keg beer may be a better value than wines and spirits. Traditionally the windows of town pubs were of smoked or frosted glass to obscure the clientele from the street but in the 1990s and after in the UK and other countries there has been a move towards clear glass, in keeping with brighter interior décors.
Sunday evening I was bored watching God-shit,
Couldn't reach remote control, so I had to watch it,
One eye on Harry Secombe, the other's on the clock,
Five to seven every Sunday we do the Alehouse Rock
Put your left foot on the rail, put your right hand on
your ale,
Stand still 'til eleven o'clock, you're doing the
Alehouse Rock
Lift the pint in your right hand and tip your head back,
With your left hand wipe the froth off your moustache,
Suck your belly in when you spot fit crack,
Keep your distance in the bogs, and watch the splash
back,
When you've finished breaking wind, shout: 'Better out
than in,'
Hide the piss stain round your cock, you're doing the
Alehouse Rock
In Dundee or in Dunbar, flop your stomach on the bar,
shout:
'Fuck off, ginger Jocks!'
You're the alehouse rock.
Down another pint and light an Embassy,
Save up all the coupons for a lung machine,
Tap your cowboy boot along to Slade on the jukebox,