Californian Reacts | What to know before going to a London pub *American Guide*
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- čas přidán 9. 06. 2024
- London Pubs: A Rich Tapestry of History, Etiquette, and Culture
History and Significance:
London's pubs have a storied history dating back to Roman times when taverns were established along the Thames. These early establishments provided respite for travelers and locals alike. Over the centuries, pubs became integral to English culture, serving as meeting places, social hubs, and sometimes even as makeshift courtrooms or theaters.
Distinctive Architecture:
One of the intriguing aspects of London pubs is their architectural diversity. From centuries-old timber-framed buildings to Victorian gin palaces, each pub exudes its unique charm. Some retain original features like wooden beams and roaring fireplaces, offering a nostalgic glimpse into bygone eras.
Local Ale and Craft Beers:
Traditionally, pubs are celebrated for their ales, and London is no exception. Many pubs offer a selection of local ales and regional brews. In recent years, the craft beer movement has flourished, resulting in an array of innovative and unique beers being brewed in the city.
Pub Etiquette:
Ordering at the Bar: In most London pubs, you'll need to approach the bar to place your order. Have your choice ready to ensure a smooth transaction.
Tipping: While not obligatory, it's customary to leave a small tip, particularly for table service. Rounding up to the nearest pound or leaving loose change is common practice.
Queuing: Britons are known for their love of queuing. If there's a line at the bar, join it and wait your turn patiently.
Reserved Tables: Some pubs may have designated areas for reservations. Always check with the staff before taking a table, especially during peak hours.
Interesting Facts:
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, established in 1667, is one of London's oldest pubs, with a history stretching back to the Great Fire of London.
The Mayflower in Rotherhithe is reputedly where the Pilgrims set sail for the New World in 1620.
Dickensian Links: Charles Dickens was a regular patron of many London pubs. Places like The Grapes in Limehouse still bear traces of his time.
Local Lingo:
Understanding some quintessentially British pub terms can enhance your experience. For instance, 'pint' refers to a 20-ounce beer, and 'half-pint' is, as the name suggests, half the size.
London's pubs are more than just places to grab a drink; they are living, breathing relics of history and bastions of social interaction. By appreciating their rich tapestry of culture, you'll find yourself not just enjoying a beverage but also immersing yourself in the heart of London's vibrant spirit.
Original video - • What to know before go...
Video by Love and London - / @loveandlondon
Although queuing is a big thing, you can go to the bar but just "hold the queue in your head" and if the server tries to serve you before the other people, you just tell the server "I'm after them". If you're not sure the order of the queue, you just make eye contact with the other person queuing and they will either say "you first" or just nod at you to go ahead.
Also, I've never heard of anyone tipping, but you can say "and one for yourself" where you offer to buy them a drink and they just charge for an extra one.
Tipping in pubs is not common at all. Gin is not made from Juniper Berries, but is often flavoured with them.
Gin is alcohol, watered down which is why many are in London, as they use the water from the artisan wells. Flsvoured with Junioer berries and arrowroot. Can also use Sloes to ma😅ke sloe gin. You ask for a pint of something or other not just a pint. To be honest, the lady was not exactly helpful, too much generaliasation
@@barryeva8862 The alcohol is distilled from wheat or barley.
@@wessexdruid7598 I worked for Tanquery Gordon’s at the Angel for 5 years. The alcohol was yes made as you say but for the whisky companies as partnof distillers. It then used to be send to Gordon’s in Tanquers called CO2 being also part
Of distillers. At that point the neat alcohol was about 140proof. Used to arrive at Gordon’s and was basically watered down and the juniper and arrowroot added.
getting a drink in for the barman is generaly what is done in Uk as opposed to tipping
In a lot of pubs, staff are not allowed to take tips.
If you are travelling outside of London, try a village pub. They are usually the social hub of the village and lots of locals will be there especially at weekends. Many pubs serve a roast dinner on Sundays. It can be beef, lamb, chicken etc with vegetables and probably a yorkshire pudding. There will be other items on the menu including vegetarian options. They are reasonably priced usually and you will find families with children all eating together. There are plenty of soft drinks available and it's quite common for one person in a group to be the designated driver who doesn't drink alcohol and to drive tge others home.
If you go in a pub in the mornings it's quite common to be able to get a coffee instead of alcohol.
The name pub is short for public house and the ambience is casual and friendly, usually!
On Saturdays when there is a big football match in the area, it might be best to avoid certain pubs! 🤣
You can’t really just order “a pint”, you need to be more specific. It’d be like going to a restaurant and ordering “some food”
"a pint" never ends up being a pint, always 2 or 3 or more.
and never a pint of 'beer'...
People do ask for a “pint of (the) best”. Which is usually the average strength, most frequently sold traditional British beer that the pub sells.
Unless your in manchester where you can get a pint of 'Pint' from marble brewery :)
Of all the US takes on English life, this lass is one of the better ones. I like her channel immensely, even though her content is Londoncentric, and I’m up in Lancashire. Just ask at the bar or one of the drinkers what to order. They’ll be more than happy to expound their knowledge at length. We’re nice people.
The UK pint is 20 fluid ounces, not 16, and the ABV is generally higher than US beer.
Watch out for this on your first night out!
Thanks for the heads up! This is something I did not know about, and could make a big difference throughout the night haha
Whilst I agree UK pints are bigger, US fluid oz are actually bigger, best to do the comparison in Litres US pint 0.474 litres, US fl oz 0.029 Litres, UK pint 0.568 Litres, UK fl oz 0.028 Litres.
Also UK draught beer averages about 4.0 abv with US about 5.0 abv, and yes we can both get stronger beers, but our (UK) beer is on average weaker.
Also true when comparing UK to most of the EU.
@@californianreacts You can also ask for a half pint, if you don't want to commit to a full pint.
@@stephenlee5929 A UK pint is still 20% bigger than the US equivalent. I think the average ABV in Britain is about 4.5% but the typical brewery or pub in the UK has a range of beers - from the 'session beers' (where you might drink lots of pints in a 'session' that may be about 4% ABV) to other 'strong ale' beers that might be 6%, 7% or more (Old Tom, from Stockport is 8.5%, as is Orkney Skull Splitter)
@@user-bs3fh7xn2s Just pointing out comparing fluid ounces is not a good idea, as these also differ.
Regarding strength of average pint in UK, according to UK government (based on tax revenue) in 2018 1,195 million litres of beer were sold, of which 365 million were at strength 4.0 abv, the next largest volume was 205 million at 4.8 abv, then 150 million at 5%,
So I suggest the most likely strength of beer bought in 2018 was about 4%.
It is also true that recently abv of UK beers have reduced, mainly to reduce costs tax change in August 2023, Example Fosters reduced abv from 4% to 3.7%, Speckled hen reduced from 5.0 to 4.8%, and Bishops Finger from 5.4 to 5.2%..
I'm not familiar with London pubs, but if you go into pubs elsewhere in England with friends then an important concept is 'The Round'.... there's a whole etiquette about this. If you are going to the pub (say with three friends) you offer to buy them a drink and go to the bar and buy the drinks. That becomes a 'round' and then there's a further etiquette that as soon a someone in the group is getting close to finishing their drink someone else offers to buy another 'round' of drinks.... To avoid social embarrassment amongst friends you need to avoid being the last person to buy a round or to be that person who never buys a round! Of course the 'my shout' or 'my round' culture explains often why you end up drinking more beer than you intend! If you move between pubs from your first beer to your second you still need to 'buy your round'...
It's the same in London, you get rounds in.
In regards to tipping, I've only ever "bought the bartender a drink" at this one pub where myself and some coworkers were regulars and had some personal rapport with the staff. Aside from that I never tip because it's simply not something people expect.
exactly the etiquette doesn't require tips but if you are a regular it is nice to do so occasionally or at Christmas/New Year's. Also if you are in a large group who are awkward or require something extra then maybe too. Not expected regularly.
One of the best things about living in the UK is we don't have the insane tipping culture, whereby it's practically obligatory, irrespective of the quality of service. Tipping in restaurants is semi customary, and 10-15% is fine. If you don't tip, nobody is going to chase you down the street. Tipping in a pub is really not usual, and buying staff a drink is something that tends to happen in village pubs where you know the bar staff. But really there aren't any rules about pub culture - just visit, go with the flow, and a good bar person will help you navigate through the vast range of drinks. Lagers, ales and ciders are the mainstay, but wine and spirits are also big. We don't tend to do cocktails the way Americans do, at least not in pubs. There are a million bars where you will find cocktails, but don't expect anything more exotic than regular mixed drinks in a pub.
The video is examples of London pubs which are different from country pubs. Country pubs often have 'beer gardens' behind the pub which have tables and chairs. Often they have play areas for children.
We have beer gardens in London!
@@jonlen100 I'm sure you do but they are much more prevalent in the country.
Pubs have all different closing times. Some pubs will have late licences, sometimes even 3 or 4. But the average is between 11-12
In Portsmouth one of the best pubs is the still and west its at the mouth of the harbour so in the summer you can sit outside watching the ships and boats go by
My favourite pub in England although I also love the Royal Oak at Langstone Harbour.
Hi, Beers/drinks in English pubs:
Generally there will be a selection of the more popular beers available on tap along the bar.
There are various types,
I think the closest to American beer, is Lager, tends to be light in colour, has bubbles, though not a thick head, is normally served cold often into a chilled glass,
Lager is probably the most popular beer type, the tap for this is a small lever, the beer is delivered by gas pressure.
Next is Bitter, this comes in 2 styles, keg or hand pump.
Keg, like lager, is delivered under gas pressure, it is darker than lager, but still a clear yellow colour. It is normally less cold than lager but is still chilled.
Hand pump bitter, may have a gas covering (too stop the be going off) but is delivered using the hand pump, the head on these beers comes from a fixing (brightener) on the tap, there will be little by way of bubbles. It is served at cellar temperature, Americans might consider this warm.
There are darker beers, such as mild but they are becoming rarer.
Stouts such as Guinness are normally available.
Most pubs will serve cider (note Hard Cider in American), these are occasionally flavoured with some other fruit, they can be surprisingly strong, specially in the West Country.
Beware Pale Ales, mostly so called 'Craft Ales' inconsistent, usually gassy and pretty much guaranteed to give you acidic stomach problems and ruin your day. Also beware anything with a seemingly humorous name or a union flag on the label.
Sunday roast, is referring to a traditional sunday roast dinner. Some form of meat (beef, pork, lamb or chicken) throw some veg in the roasting pan with the meat (carrots, potatoes) then serverved with some more veg and proper meat stock gravy. Most people have a sunday roast usually at home, but a lot of people like to go to a pub for the sunday roast so they dont have to cook. Best way to describe it to an american would be, it's is like a slightly smaller version of a christmas or thanks giving dinner, but still quite a large plate of food.
Pub closing times can vary a bit, most pubs are closed by midnight though, so usually around 10:30-11pm is last orders. Clubs are different, clubs can stay open pretty much as late as they want. Where i used to live, you could actually go from friday night, to monday morning none stop clubbing, if you changed venues. One was open from 8pm until abut 4am, the next opened at 2am and was open until abut 8am.. And so on.
Great video. One thing that normally irks me with young folks doing videos is their obsession with saying the word 'like' every couple of words, but this lady was extremely articulate AND interesting too. Thank you for uploading this.
I won't like your comment, just up vote it😊
Just to muddy the waters, in polite circles beer is usually ale, everything else is lager.
How do get the "bar tenders" attention. We're British, we know how to queue and our place in it. Woe betide the queue jumper.
Pubs have different opening (thus closing), times, but a reasonable expectation (in England) is 10:30pm on a Sunday and 11:00pm other nights.
There maybe some later nights for some pubs, night clubs are different.
Last Orders is normally rung 10 minutes before closing time, and you are technically allowed 20 minutes to 'drink up' after the second bell, but you wont be popular with bar staff if you hang around.
Times for food are generally much more restricted. You can normally get food at lunch time and early evening, rarely afternoon or after about 09:00pm. There are exception specially with some chain pubs.
20+ years working in pubs for me, depending on how busy the bar is, if you wait at the bar closer to the till a decent bar person will have seen you and added you to their internal queue. You will get served as quickly as possible for the bar person.
Some people don't understand that lots of bars have back spaces or go out of eye shot, restaurant areas, and it's up to the bar person to be waiter, server and deal with disputes, so it can take longer than what it looks like it should.
Prime example for me, I had a couple of kids trash the toilets because they were knobs, I was on my own so I had to leave the bar, tidy up the mess and keep up with bar orders. Luckily enough that is what local customers help out with mostly.
Happy to have you here giving me these truths and tips! Sounds like you're (and anyone who works at a pub) wears a lot of hats and does it all, very much like a manager here at certain places and taking care of anything and everything. Can't imagine how busy your days must have felt! Although, probably flew by.
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If pubs up in Lancashire went cashless there would be a riot! Closing time can be a bit of a moveable feast. Can’t count the of number of times in my youth I was subject to a ‘lock in’ till breakfast, when you’d stagger out for a ‘full English’. Happy daze……😋
I'm in London and make a point of NOT giving my business to pubs that have become 'cashless'! Additionally, those that don't take any cash are usually a LOT more expensive, than those that do... 🤔
so true.. step away from pubs and about 500 yards from my house there's a chippy, then a takeaway and a pie shop within fifty feet of each other and none of them take cards. The takeaway does bank transfers but that's it as close as you're getting...
One thing you specifically need to know is, that you don’t ask for a beer, the barman will just look at you and say, yea which one do you want, you need to be specific as to what beer you want.
What she said about the restaurant part of the pub isn’t necessarily true, in a lot of pubs you still need to go the bar to order food (mostly if it’s a large pub and/or pub chain)
Also lots of pubs don’t have a “restaurant section”, and every table is for eating and drinking.
Yes, and some stop food after 8pm on a Friday or Saturday to make way for the serious drinking!
A Sunday roast is a roast dinner
Pubs closes at different times, but generally at 11:00pm
Pubs used to close at 11pm (10:30pm on Sundays) due to the licensing laws at the time; but you'd still find a few that held a "late license" to stay open until midnight every day, and then of course the nightclubs until around 3am.
In 2003 England and Wales abolished fixed closing times, making it easier for pubs to obtain late licenses and in some cases remain open 24 hours. So, it's rare now to find a pub that closes before midnight.
The typical convention for last call (we call it "last orders") is for the first bell to be rung around 20 minutes before closing time, giving time to get another drink. The second bell, meaning the bar is closed, is rung at closing time - and people generally have 10-15 minutes to finish their drinks and head off.
Passing a Pub, i didn't know that was possible. I hate shopping so i have my Christmas shop planned. So 11an start shopping 1pm ish Pub lunch 2.30pm start shopping again, 5.30pm ish back to pub, 8pm ish another hr of shopping and my shopping is done.
Sunday Poast is a thing of joy, roast meat, beef,pork, lamb or chicken with roast potatoes Yorkshire Pudding veg and diffrent sause for each meat and gravy. A roast is truly heaven in a Pub on a cold day with a roaring fire, wonderful.
Cider is strongly alcoholic in the UK so Americans would call it 'hard cider' not that apple flavoured fruit juice known in the US. Connoisseurs should find an apple growing area and look for a farm that sells 'scrumpy' which is home brewed cider and will allow you to see the fairies!!
Jess classes herself as a Londoner which is fair enough, seeing as she's lived there for 10 years. Her vlogs are very good. In the UK we don't tip, but you can buy staff a drink, so she's right.
London pubs are typical of only London pubs. Across the rest of the UK they are a little different. Most people in the UK eat at home, even on a Sunday. Pubs are primarily drinking places with some food traditionally. It is a quite recent thing for them to be more like restaurants with drinks, known as gastropubs.
Beer is the most popular drink, cider mostly in the west country. British cider is always alcoholic, though alcohol free ciders & beers are available.
Pims is like 'posh' drink, for Polo players & garden parties.
Pubs outside of the city often have outdoor areas, with tables & chairs, beer gardens, not so many in large towns have space for these. The Guinness you have in the States is not the same as in Britain or Ireland. You can't ask for mls in the UK. Drinks are served in fixed measures by law, so pints, half pints, & spirits by optic gauges on the bottle neck. The UK pint is larger than the US version.
You don't just ask for 'beer' but the particular type & brew you want. If not sure then ask what is most popular, the bar staff, or other customers will advise you.
Remember British beer is not the same as American, which would mostly be classed as lager in the UK. Real beer must not be served chilled, it does not work that way. It is not that Brits like warm beer, but it only tastes right at ambient temperature, not cooled.
My suggestion would be to go to the pub with a British person for your first time. That way they can explain the whole beer/ale/lager situation to you.
Remember if you want to pay premium prices, go to a London pub.
Beer is the most popular, but cider is very popular in the West Country.
And with younger adults nowadays, a survey found.
@@no-oneinparticular7264 I’m assuming that’s probably sweeter ciders, not proper scrumpy though!
Pub shows it's cashless. Totally opposite with my nearest local as it's cash only and doesn't take card. All around where I live do both. I'm glad I always carry some cash as have already seen it when a system goes down Pubs and a Club having to resort to cash.
The cheers thing is in no way as formal as she says. Raise your glass can be enough. If you’re with mates, you just drink. As you are often buying rounds it is often directed towards the round buyer, to say thank you.
Sunday roast is a traditional roast dinner ( think thanks giving). Pubs are an easy option
A lot of pubs will close at 11pm most nights but it may be 1am or 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.
Sunday Roast consists of; Meat, which could be Lamb/Beef/Chicken. Veggies : Carrots/Peas/Broccoli/Cauliflower/Mash Potato/Roast Potatoes/Yorkshire Pudding(which is a batter mix which is crispy and a little doughy, and of course Gravy. The condiments could be Mint Sauce for Lamb, Horse Radish for Beef, gravy goes with all meals.
An alternative to saying Cheers, is Bottoms Up!
Kids are generally tolerated at meals, usually early evening as kids need early bed time. You can see them at Sunday Roast Dinners.
If you ask for a beer on tap then you will get a pint unless you ask for a half (lightweight !)
Most pubs will have at least one Cider on tap and many people are either beer drinkers or cider drinkers
For the most part outside of London you DO NOT tip in pubs outside London
Tipping - as a rule of thumb if your food/drink is brought to you, you can leave a tip.
If you queue to collect/order your drink/food, no tip required.
At my local pub and local cafe, where I am a regular I do not tip - even if the food /drink is brought to me EXCEPT for Sunday Roast.
Sunday Roast is like a Thanksgiving Dinner, and eaten most Sunday (if you can afford it). It is a joint of meat (lamb, beef, pork) cooked in the oven - or a chicken - with roast potatoes, carrots, cabbage, parsnips, cauliflower cheese (this is a recent corruption in ROAST dinner), GRAVY, and Yorkshire pudding.
Puddings (or dessert in US English) will be stodgy, full of carbs and sugar like Sticky toffee pudding, Bread and Butter pudding, Crumble and custard (Crumble is a topping of flour, suger, butter mixed together and put over fruit and baked in oven).
This is the meal of the week! Brits do not eat like this every day.
The Pub scene is changing. There has been a decrease of approximately 8,600 pubs in the last ten years, and a decline of over 14,000 pubs since 2000. Cider is generally a drink that women have, though it is reasonably popular but Beer is more popular. Bitter, Mild, Lager or mixed beer, like adding Lemonade for a Shandy. Tipping. Usually you would say "and one for yourself" the server can then add money or the price of a drink for themselves. You would generally not do this every order just now and again.
Beer is a lot more popular than cider, but in the summer cider sales go up
What queue? don't stand in a queue just stand at the bar, if the bar is busy just stand behind someone and wait till you reach the bar, when at the bar if you get server really quick and there were others there before you then it's polite to say to server them first ...
tipping in the uk is always optional. if you feel like you getting great service then its up to you. unlike america. where you feel like you have too.
Thank you! That's what I was thinking but when it came up in the video I stated to question if tipping was a little more common than I thought outside of the US.
@@californianreacts well put it this way. tipping is way less common then compared to america. well i tip if i get a good server at a restaurant. but keep in mind. servers in the uk get paid enough money to live on. so tips are a bonus. also there are take away food delivery services that ask for tips for drivers. but like i said tipping is always optional for everything. so never feel pressured to do so.
If I am planning to stay a while I'm a pub I will tip on the first round and the service often speeds up from then on. Helpful if it's a busy pub.
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Cider is very popular in the spring/summer due to how refreshing they are, lager is by far the most popular though, especially in autumn/winter
When you order a pint at the bar you’d ask for “a pint of Carling/Amstel/Heineken/Carlsberg/Guinness/Bitter/Cider/Old Tom’s Wibbly Wobbly / Jolly Hipster’s Norwegian IPA / *insert name of beer here* please mine host.” Asahi and other Asian beers are not going to be common outside of major City Centre bars and clubs. Most pubs will have a selection of lagers, and maybe a couple of bitters.
Not “ Last Call”, it’s “Last Orders” here, followed by “Time!” as in “Ding Ding, Time ladies and gentlemen please, ‘aven’t you got homes to go to?”.
As for tipping, you usually say "and one for yourself ". But you only really tip if you have been there for a while ie all evening or your part of a large crowd. Remember to take your glasses back to the bar.
If you live in London ... outside the centre, there are often local 'gastro' pubs (as part of a chain) where you can buy food on a limited menu. They will often also have a 'meal deal' where food and a drink are all part of the price (sometimes as low as £10 for both). Tips in the US are part of the staff wages, which tend to be based on an assumption of 15-20%. In the UK, staff are paid a much more liveable wage and therefore tips are seen as extra reward for a service well done. However, when eating in a gastro pub it is common to give a similar tip to eating in a restaurant ... typically 10%. Buying the bar person a drink is exceptional rather than the norm. Because pubs are very much part of community life outside the home, it is quite relaxed and social ... nothing to be anxious about.
This old man recalls much different pubs back then; usually two rooms, a 'snug' 'saloon' or 'bar', where there's room to sit, or room only to stand or play bargames like shove-ha'penny, skittles or cribbage, and a quieter place where the ladies can feel more at home. Only food was packets of crisps or sometimes pickles like onions or eggs.
A few pubs were also hostelrys that had rooms to rent, and these might serve simple food like meat or cheese sandwiches (it happens in a Sherlock Holmes story).
More recently, pubs became places to watch a TV screen of a sporting event; more recently still, the surviving ones are 'gastro-pubs' where food is served all day.
There are many soft or fruit drinks available, but mixed or complex drinks tend not to be asked for when the place is crowded, and tend only to be served at 'stockbroker's pubs' in the City.
Cider made with Pears is called Perry.
You don't have to order a pint, you could ask for a half a pint to see if you like it or not😊
Tipping is more common than people are making out in the comments, in a busy pub a good tipper will get served quicker. You often say "take your own" when paying. This is an invitation to take a drink, however a decent bar person will merely take a pound or two rather than the price of a full drink. Those that take the full price will tend to be tipped less often than the ones that take a couple of quid.
I've never heard of anyone ask for a tester!😮
Hahaha. 😂 that made me giggle.
Its common in a 'real ale' pub where they tend to have a revolving line up of beers.
Yes. Go in order a pint. Or half. Or get a short . If you want you can give the person who served you a tip.bit obviously you dont have to.
'Sunday Roast' - regular trad. Meal consisting of roast meat - often Beef or lamb, but could be turkey or chicken with often a fish or vegetarian option - the meat will be accompanied by potatoes in one form or another and a variety of vegetables with a gravy made from the liquor from the meat roast. Starters and desserts are also available. Pubs usually close at around 11 0r 12 in the evening but will be open often from 8am for a breakfast meal, but usually open from midday and could be open later at weekends. Tipping is not usual in the UK, workers will be paid at least the statutory minimum wage of £12:00 per hour and restaurants will add a small service charge to the bill. I prefer country village or small town pubs rather than large city pubs (AKA Public Houses).
It may interest you that Public Houses arose in early or mid medieval times, a wife would often brew beer or ale for the household while husband worked his 12-hour shift. If it was good they could sell surplus to locals, friends, family etc. Then it became possible to get a licence (government saw a tax source) to sell the beer on the property, so the house became a place where the public could drink, Hence 'Public House'or just 'Pub'.
She was pretty good at explaining pub culture. She did choose pubs in wealthy areas that are actually pretty good. I've been a regular at most of them over the years and pubs all over London are individually interesting with a history all of their own. I love a true local pub but I' a Londoner so I know how to behave in various pubs.
Jess knows more about London than many Brits
Sunday roast is a British tradition roast beef with Yorkshire pudding/ roast lamb with mint sauce / roast pork with stuffing / or chicken with roast potatoes and vegetables with gravy most pubs are also dog friendly
Pubs come in different sorts. Themed, City, Town Centre, Community, and traditional village. Personally, I hate plastic city pubs, especially around tourist spots (they tend to be overpriced and overhyped.)
We typically DO NOT Tip on pub bar service (different if you are sat at table and order food where there is a table servicr)BUT if it is very busy it is common to say when paying "and one for yourself" BUT ONLY ONCE (this doesnt mean he would pour himself a triple measure of Louis XIV cognac) they would normally take a nominal amount from your change (say 50p) and put it in a jar to share out) or if its at end of their shift they might take a ½ pint. Although it doesn't ensure prompt service next time you go up but it helps
Appreciate the additional information on all of this! There was plenty I had questions about and these comments are filling in the blanks for me. All good to know 🙂
I have worked behind many bars, not in London or the South, and at the end of the night, your tips are your own. They are not shared out.
@@californianreactsHow are you sir? I have found a very good cricket video for you to react to that will help clear all confusion and your questions about the sport game called cricket. Look Up a cricket video called Cricket explained for Baseball fans (by youtuber Sports explained). CZcamsr sports explained for the cricket video is the original youtuber that will explain it all clear to you.
Pubs aren't just for drinking. Many serve good food like traditional British foods. Sundays there most likely is a roast or two on. Generally it will be roasted meat, beef/ pork/ chicken, etc. with roasted potatoes 2 veg ,stuffing , Yorkshire puds and gravy. If that's what you want go early!
Tips, pubs no, restaurants yes, but check your bill first, many restaurants now pre include a set 'service charge', presumably in the hope that Americans won't notice and will automatically leave another tip on top.
Guinness or Larger most popular.
Pimms has numbers to choose from.
Pubs vary dramatically depending on location and customers. So this pub in trendy Notting Hill is very different to our village pub up North.
Japanese lager not really a widespread drink, more typical would be a standard UK larger, or German or Belgium. Cider is a big drink UK, but ales are common too.
Tipping is not common in pubs, but if you're in a local pub you go to a lot you might buy bar staff a drink.
Interesting video but as with most things London is not particularly representative of England as a whole.
I will make one very serious suggestion to you. If you visit the UK and intend to drive, the Drink/Drive law in the UK is very strict. If you commit a driving offence (maybe quite easy if you are new to driving in the UK) and that would include using a mobile (Cell) Phone and you are observed by a Police Officer, they will probably stop you (though in general they will be quite friendly and not threatening, and remember they are not armed) and if they believe you have been drinking will breathalyse you. If Positive you will be taken to a Police Station and put in a cell until your alcohol level restores to within legal limits. For a UK residence that would mean a 12 month driving ban, a large fine and vastly increased insurance costs for your car. Usually more than 1 pint would put you over the limit.
London pubs are alright, bit clicky though, But outside of crammed London you will find some beautiful tipple points.
A decent tip at the bar would be a couple of quid. So, Keep a dozen or so, pound coins in your pocket, just for tips. And depending on the amount of drinks you have bought just push 2 or 3 of them across at the barperson just after you have paid, smile and say ''cheers!''. I guarantee you will get a 'thank you' and great service off the barperson if you do!
Remember, Dont be tipping tenners and such. You will look like a mug tourist!
Work it out..a good barperson at a busy pub can serve 60-80 orders in one night!
Doombar…. It’s lovely
Tipping is very uncommon in pubs. Perhaps tip after a great meal in a pub but often food is ordered at the bar and payed upfront anyway, so you aren't going to tip.
Generally, if you sit down and people take your order and bring everything to you, tip; if you order at the bar or counter, even if they bring your orders to the table, no tip.
Someday rose this what English people used to have. Every Sunday, mom would cook a joint, a beef. And we would all have a big dinner.
If i went into a pub and they had a cashless sign I'd be out of there and besides they can't pull a pint down south its like cold tea.
The Churchill Arms used to have a very good Thai Restaurant in the back. I had some exceptional pad Thai there once back in the mid 1990s. I don't know if it is still the case. Cider is a nice apple drink, can be sweet and can be sharp. There are now many fruit based coders like strawberry and lemon, or mango and passionfriut, there are so many flavours now. We have some great country pubs which are accessible by train less than 1 hour from the city which you will get to meet some great people and thry will be friendly. Mine for 12 years was the Queen's Head in Nutfield, Surrey. They had a great Sunday lunch. Depends on where you are as to when the pubs close. Generally last orders are at 10.30 with 30 mins drink up time. Some like my old local had a licence until 12 midnight, so it had last orders arojnd 11.30pm. My new locals all go with the 10.30 last orders and 11pm close. But if there is a big sporting event they get and extension to when the event ends.
My new pub is the Ye olde six bells in Horley which is very close to Gatwick Airport. Very good service, old pub building dating back to the late 16th century and set by a river.great food and outdoor seating in summer as well.
I suggest visiting The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town in London. When you get there say "I'd like to speak with the Mayor" you will then meet someone who will take you through a secret door down to a "speakeasy" bar.
As an englishman, If I pay with cash then I may tip the change. I do tip at great pubs with great service, it is not expected but it is appreciated.
You never have to say cheers before you start drinking.
tipping does not happen in pubs, where tipping may go on, is your local pub, where its the same bar person every night, or everytime you go in, they know you and you know them, as said, you may say get yourself a drink as well, they wont get the drink, but put the money in a jar
You passed on going to the Pub, a Pub, any Pub, every Pub? Only five days, that's a lifetime of memories!Jeezzz..
We went out on a Friday afternoon to a petrol station to put air in a tyre and I woke up on Sunday morning, on the back seat of the car, in the dordogne, France!!!
In a pub, I kissed a girl I didn't know, moved in with her that night, spent 8 fantasic months with her and I still don't know her name!
What did she say, even if you dont like drinking? What's wrong with you, are you broken!
The best time to go to the pub is between opening time and 2 hours after closing!
Stand anywhere along the bar....
If your a regular at a pub you will get to know the bar staff and it's not unusual to offer to buy the bar person a drink occasionally, which they will add to the bill but it's not expected. Restaurant's or any table service usually have a table /service charge added to the meal but if your waiter has been particularly good leaving something on the table is a nice thing to do but it's not expected, just purchasing a drink is not table service. Tipping is not a thing in general, you don't tip just every one for doing a job they are already being paid to do, beside being demining as it still has associations with the wealthy tipping the less well off as if it where charity. 21st century equality!! tipping is an archaic social dinosaur.
She's drinking keg!! What makes a great pub is the quality of the beer served (from a hand pump!!!!) and for that you need to refer to the good beer guide.
If you are not sure of pubs in an area or are travelling around the UK then get a copy of "The Good Beer Guide" produced by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) as this information about pubs which serve real ale plus comments about the breweries concerned as well as location.
saying "cheers" - false. We all do it sometimes but she made it sound that we do it with every drink. Last orders is never at 10:30. 10:45 at the very earliest but it varies as for the last 30 years pubs licenses mean they can apply to open more hours.
A pint in the UK is 20 fluis oz beer is pint or half pint some extra strong drink by the third of a pint (gill) in my area there is a local brewery called Robinsons they do a bottle or a small barrel on the bar called Old Tom various types but a fair bit stronger than normal beer and ale. Also a thing called Barley Wine also fairly strong. Spirits are by measure 25ml or 50ml, wine by the glass size can vary from pup to pup.
Gin must be a neutral spirit distilled from something natural like wheat, barley, potatoes or grapes.
The flavors of a gin come from its botanicals (that’s the herbs, seeds, flowers, plants or spices added during production), and, crucially, all gins must contain juniper.
Sunday roast is Beef or pork or chicken roasted with veggies and Yorkshire pudding plus gravy and drink of choice.
when at the bar, it is organised caos (spell check), stand your turn and moved forward, everyone knows the order people turn up at the bar, you will here the bar person say who is next, and you will often here, they are next they were here before me, that also gets your attention for the bar person, that your there and will probably be served next,
First thing to do before visiting a London pub is, first, remortgage your house. Second, sell your first and second born. Then, and only then, can you afford a pint. The bint has done what most novices has done is to assume London is typical of the UK. Most people do not live in London.
or visit london.
I always find it strange that Americans come to the UK and London is the place they want to visit; yet they'd probably find it strange if a Brit went to American and went to Washington DC just because it's the capital.
Bint. 😂
I was a barman over two and a half years in two Manchester pubs. I earned lots of tips! I could easily double my wages!
Beer is on tap (which means it is in a large barrel and pumped up to the nozzle in the bar), so you need to order a 'Pint of Guiness' or whatever type of beer you want.
There are Stout beers - like Guiness, Brown Ales, (India) Pale Ales (IPAs), and Lagers. As a rule of thumb the paler the ale the less taste it has.
If you order beer in a bottle it will likely be overseas beer/lager.
Although you can get bottled UK beer.
no we don't tip in pups good to see you back😃
Good to know! Seems like only if one really, really wants to you can tip, but its uncommon. Wouldn't want to be doing it wrong my first trip to a pub there!
And thanks! Good to be back 🙂
Generally when we tip in a pub it's "and have one yourself" so basically buy the barman a drink. Most pubs you order food at the bar With your drinks. If you sit down and expect table service then expect to wait a long time. Pints are 20 fluid ounces not the short measure of 16 you get in the US and that is the liguid measure, the head is over and above that.
If you're drinking in London expect to be paying double that of most of the rest of the country.
Standard licencing hours will be 11 am to 11 pm but most pubs will take an extended licence at weekends until midnight or 1 am. Several will open earlier for breakfasts including tea or coffee but not alcohol. However in dock or market areas you may find some which open earlier. It used to be possible to dink 24 hours in Aberdeen if you knew where to go - I'm sure other port cities would be similar - Dock pubs from 4am to lunchtime, normal pubs until 11pm or midnight then on to the nightclubs until about 4am.
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I would say, as a Brit, that tipping in the pub would be considered a bit weird. People would wonder why you are doing it! Buying the bar tender a drink is a thing BUT extremely rare. We do say ‘cheers’ before drinking and some people would think it rude not to. But, it’s not necessarily cheers you’d say every time… you’ll hear things like, ‘chin chin’, ‘bottoms up’ etc too (if you’re being a bit silly). Queuing in a pub is often a task in being a pro as eye contact for sure!
Also, taking turns buying a round of drinks is hugely common. Is considered rude to just go in a buy your own drink. If you’re with a group of friends, you all normally agree to take turns buying the round.
I grew up in a pub it's a hard live 24/7 but it can be the best times too.
Cider is a very popular drink, now, with many flavours, compared to when i started drinking in the 80's, there was about 3, now there is 30+
So there was a clue in her video about these pubs are for tourists. If you live outside London you have your own "local" where if you go enough all you have to do is nod at the barman and you'll get served, even if someone has been there before you (especially if they aren't a local). She was drinking light (coloured) beer which is called larger, darker ones are called beer, and you generally just ask fort a pint of xyz. Outside of London a lot of pubs will have a garden to sit outside unless you have typical British weather of rain LOL. The "Roast" is a dinner on Sunday which is typically beef/turkey/gammon with roast potatoes and veg, but if you're in Wales don't expect to get one after 5pm, the rest of the UK you'll be ok.
Tip - get the first round in as it (the round) can bigger quickly and if you've got in early its cheaper lol. Being an American you'd probably like the larger better so ask for a pint of "wife beater" ;)
Cider is popular in the Summer.
Tipping isn't common, though some pubs are beginning to add an automatic tip option if you pay by card reader at the bar.
Also - too much about eye contact. We don't do that here.
Ive never seen a single file que at a bar, where i live people will just crowd around the bar and the bar tender knows who was there in what order and if they dont people will say suchabody is before me
I don't think I've ever seen a Japanese beer in a U.K. pub let alone tried one. Most pubs will have your standard larger, Cider and Spirits with 3 or more ales that often rotate from week to week by different breweries and there is usually a list of what they can and can't sell depending who owns the pub
To catch the attention of the Barkeep like she says eye contact, nod of the head, raise a finger, do not shout "Oiy", ( or however that is spelt. ). Clinking and cheers is not a common thing, probably only done it myself two/three time and I am 65 now.
Oh hello !
Cricket have so much leagues in the world all leagues are popular but most popular leagues are in the world is ipl,bbl,sa20,T20,odi,cpl,pcl, world cup etc..
US pint and US gallon are both smaller than Imperial pints and gallons !
If you go try ale, London Pride, Old Speckled Hen and many more. Its not strong 4% 'ish just get a half pint as you'll probably not like it. Its served cellar temp hence the US calling it warm beer. But at least you can say you tasted beer that is traditional UK and not Lager a foreign concoction that I drink a lot preferably Belgian/German/Cech.
Americans are obsessed with the whole cheers thing...I only ever say cheers as a thank you
She certainly seems to have found the emptiest pubs in London - in at least three of them she walked straight up to an empty bar with only one member of staff behind the bar, and then at the one she went in that did have other people in, she joined a queue as in a line of people waiting to get to the bar. Which you don't really do in a pub unless the bar is very tiny, or there are a massive amount of people waiting and only one person behind the bar. Generally as long as there's room along the length of the bar to stand, move to a space, and trust the bar staff to have noted your position in the queue in relation to everybody else waiting to be served. If you end up pushing in, ie the barman offers to serve you before somebody else who was definitely there before you, point to them first. That will ensure (1) that you don't get any complaints from this other customer that you have pushed in and (2) will almost certainly ensure that you are next to be served by that same member of staff, rather than somebody else who might be trying to push in. Even if the pub was stopping serving at 11, they'd normally only ring last orders (not LAST CALL) at 10:30 if the pub was ridiculously full and there weren't many bar staff on. It doesn't generally take half an hour to serve every single patron in a pub one more drink - and that's if every single customer in the pub wanted another drink and was going to go to the bar to order it themselves. Our local generally rings the first bell maybe ten to fifteen minutes before time, not half an hour.