English With Kit Podcast Episode 3: British Pub Culture Explained

Vocabulary:

• date back to (collocation): used to talk about the time something started to exist. Example: "British pubs date back to the Roman period."

• beverage (noun): a synonym of "drink". Example: "Tea is my favourite beverage."

• quintessential (adjective): used to describe a perfect example of something. Example: "Ale is the quintessential British drink."

• to unwind (verb): a synonym of "relax". Example: "I like to unwind with a book at the end of the day."

• rowdy (adjective): a synonym of "noisy". It's commonly used to describe crowds or groups of people or places. Example: "Sports pubs can be quite rowdy, especially when a football match is on the TV."

• "It's not the done thing" (idiom): Something people generally don't do, especially something not socially acceptable. Example: "It's not the done thing to tip in British pubs."

Transcript:

Hello and welcome back to the English with Kit podcast.

In today's episode, I'm going to talk about one of the most important social institutions in Britain: the pub -- which is short for "public house."

I'll talk a little bit about the history of British pubs and why they are so important to British social life. I'll also explain the different kinds of pubs you'll find in the U.K. and the unspoken rules of British pubs that are sure to be helpful if you're planning your first-ever visit to a pub in the U.K.

At the end of the episode, I'll explain some key vocabulary and phrases from the episode. I'll also upload the transcript to my website, englishwithkit.com.

British pubs date back to the Roman period. According to Historic UK Magazine, pubs started out as wine-selling taverns that soon adapted to sell a local favourite: ale. Ale, which is made from malted barley, hops, yeast and water, has been a much-loved beverage on the British Isles for thousands of years.

Today, pubs remain a quintessential part of British social culture. Beyond simply enjoying a drink, pubs are places to socialize, unwind after a long day at work, watch or take part in sports events -- darts being one of the most popular games to play in pubs -- and some pubs host community events. These may include, among other things, hobby groups, live music, karaoke, charity events and quiz nights.

On that note, pubs were especially important to working-class people and the so-called "underclass" in Victorian times, when day-to-day life was incredibly difficult and, often, a battle for survival.

Many people worked very long hours doing thankless, sometimes even dangerous work for very little money, and many lived in very poor conditions. It's not surprising that a lot of people enjoyed heading to a warm pub with a friendly atmosphere and good ale to unwind at the end of a long, hard day.

Pubs have also historically been, in certain areas of the country, popular locations for "wakes" after funerals. If you're not familiar with wakes, a wake is a gathering of family and friends after a funeral has taken place. Pubs are especially ideal for the purpose in towns and villages as they provide a central gathering point for people to meet.

Pubs in the U.K. aren't all made the same: There are many different kinds. Firstly, you have the classic, local pubs in towns and villages that people living in the area like to frequent.

They typically serve drinks and snacks, like cobs, scotch eggs, and crisps, and it's very common for well-behaved dogs to be allowed in. Some pubs, however, might not allow dogs, so it's best to check in advance if it's your first time visiting a pub and you want to take your furry family member along with you.

Likewise, some pubs allow children while others don't. Some pubs allow children inside but not after a certain time. For example, a pub may not allow children after 9.00 p.m. This isn't a universal rule and depends on the individual pub.

We also have what's known as "sports bars" or "sports pubs." As you can guess from the name, sports pubs/bars are ideal for people who want to enjoy a drink while watching a game on the TV or celebrate a match-day victory.

They tend to be a little more rowdy than the classic, local pubs, which often have more of a cosy vibe. Some sports bars serve food as well as drinks.

On that note, you also have family-friendly, restaurant-type pubs that serve food. Typical items you may see on a pub menu include fish and chips, bangers and mash, steak and ale pie, cottage pie, burgers, and of course, the classic Sunday roast dinner.

Many British pubs also offer vegetarian and/or vegan options, and I personally love this because I am vegetarian and don't eat any meat at all.

Another type of pub you may come across is a chain pub. Chain pubs are basically brands, so you can expect to see the same or a very similar menu and design across these types of pubs.

Wetherspoons, which can be found across the country in both cities and towns, is an example of a popular chain pub. It's a favourite of many thanks to its cheap pricing and quick service.

Pubs are known for having a down-to-Earth, friendly atmosphere, but there are still some unspoken rules to bear in mind. In British pubs, service is at the bar, which means you go up to the bar, order your drinks and take them back to your table yourself. Some pubs let you order from an app.

It's common for people to queue at the bar, which means that instead of forming a standard queue, you go straight up to the bar and line up next to your fellow pub-goers. This might look chaotic, but it's not an excuse to try and get served first.

The bartender typically tries to remember who was there first, and serves customers in that order. Therefore, though it doesn't look like a typical queue, it is a queue nonetheless.

Sometimes, especially during busy periods, the bartender might forget who was there first and serve the person who came after them. In that case, it's considered the polite thing to do to let the bartender know that that person was there before you.

In addition, it's not the done thing to tip in British pubs. As I mentioned earlier, pubs have a very down-to-Earth atmosphere, and there is absolutely no expectation that you will leave a tip.

And that brings us to the end of this episode on British pub culture. I hope you've enjoyed this episode, and you're welcome to ask me any questions you may have in the comments.

Before you go, let's take a closer look at some key vocabulary, phrases and expressions from this episode.