What is it about English pubs that make them better than anywhere else? A good pub serves decent beer in a warm atmosphere, but is that all?
In the foreword to the new book, Great Pubs of England with photos by Horst A. Friedrichs and words by Stuart Husband, beer expert John Warland puts forth his theory that the pub offers so much more.
“Since time immemorial, the public house has offered a place of shelter, liquid refreshment, sustenance and occasional lodging,” he says. “But it’s much more than the sum of these parts. It’s often the very heart of a community, raising funds for its patrons, providing ad-lib counselling services, and offering a sociable antidote to the prevalent plague of loneliness.
“The pub is the backdrop for first dates, mending broken hearts, or toasting hatches, matches and dispatches. It’s the
