Key to descriptions & rationale
- Real ale Pub - a Pub with good real ale
- Pub - a Pub but not specialising in good real ale
- Real ale Bar - a Bar with good real ale
- Bar - a Bar without good real ale
I term a Bar (in this context) as being the antithesis of a Pub:
- A Bar smacks of Corporateness (see below)
and is usually without any true character
- it just has what the corporate interior decorator installed.
- A Bar exists solely to sell drinks,
with a sideline in food usually these days.
- A Pub is a Public House - someone's home which is open to the public.
- A Pub has real character - personalised by the occupants.
- A Pub is part of the community.
- See also what
Adopt A Pub
at Pubworld says about pubs.
- Also CAMRA Campaigns:
- Wring the Swan's Neck
- Nitrokeg - the Truth
Good Bad
------------------------------------------------------
Tenancy/freehold Managed
Small brewery/pub chain Large brewery/pub chain
Natually-evolved decor, Corporate interior designer
reflecting landlord & pubs's off-the-shelf kit
character
Staff wearing normal clothes Staff wearing uniforms
Prices chosen by landlord Prices chosen by corporate
and rounded to 5p or 10p management & not rounded
Normal till Fully automated till
(keys = money) (keys = goods)
No piped music Piped music
No juke box Juke box
No electronic games Electronic games
Traditional games No trad. games
(cribbage, darts...)
Good Bad
------------------------------------------------------
Small choice Large choice
(each likely to be fresh) (turnover per barrel
likely to be poor,
so beer less fresh)
Guest beers Operating group's
(landlord has real choice) beer selection
Genuine imported lager UK-brewed lager with
foreign brand name
Handpumps Keg (pressurised and/or
(live beer) pasteurised beer)
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