British pubs have their own rules
-
In 1943, as American troops were dispersed around British air bases to join the Allied war effort, a short informative film, “How to Behave in Britain”, was produced. One section was dedicated to the “dos” and “don’ts” of a British pub, and used a roistering soldier — who tosses cash at the barmaid, hoots at a Scotsman in a kilt and brags how he and his large family enjoy steak for breakfast — to demonstrate exactly what not to do. Our young braggart ends up being disappeared in a puff of smoke, and rightly so.
Over 80 years on, the British pub has changed a lot, but it still retains a number of unusual quirks for newcomers. It pays to come to the UK armed with pub sense, and so in that spirit, here is a 21st-century guide to enjoying the great British boozer.
