h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A very informative article -- being a North American, I learnt a lot!

I suggest you put in something about the age at which under-18s are allowed in pubs. I know that when I visited London (when I was 13 and my sister was 10) most pubs we came across had signs announcing that no under-14s were allowed in. To me, this seems a relatively important fact, worth inclusion.

All in all, I quite enjoyed this entry

Great responses! all! I have updated and fiddled about a little more, hope it reads better now
PGHF

Nice one PGHF

Just a thought on your comment "if you can see it you can order it".
If you don't see it, it's often worth asking, specially if there's more than one room (may be a different hand-pump on in the other room). Many real ale pubs will have a blackboard somewhere listing what's currently on offer.
Or if you're after real cider, it's often kept in an anonymous looking jug in the fridge or a polypin or whatever under the bar or down in the cellar.
A quote from a barman in one of our local real ale/cider pubs when I asked what cider he'd got on "well there's bottles of Strongbow or some scrumpy stuff in the cellar". The scrumpy stuff turned out to be a lovely smooth real cider but the disdainful look on his face was a treat

Good entry..

Which reminds me, anyone up for visiting such an establishment in Birmingham on the 23rd.

Humm

Ok, I'm stop being such a blatent advertiser!

Ah, Metal, thanks for that, I'll add a footnote about the other variable beverages that may be on offer...
PGHF

It's a great entry.
Fantastic, and most useful!

Just a point - letting kids in is the landlord's choice.
This is how the law stood when my dad was a landlord;
They can let whoever they want in, to wherever they want, and exclue whoever they want.
Under-16's are not allowed up to the bar, and 16-18s can only order soft drinks.

Also, if you are an inn, you are legally required to give any passing traveller water in certain counties, and on roads like wattling street etc.
It's a little-known and under-exploited by-law from the days of coaching and such.

Shaping up nicely. Under the 'Getting a Drink' section, is it worth advising against doing anything more than trying to catch the bar staff's eye when trying to get served? Certainly in my experience, shouting to catch their attention only makes you more invisible, and snapping your fingers or waving your tenner at them is Right Out.

Also, of course, if the bar person is male and so are you, be prepared to be overlooked for immediate service in favour of any attractive young ladies appearing and requiring refreshment.

mmm. Oh, yes, thanks guys. Have added a bit about landlords and ages and stuff, and thanks for that little by-law Kate, chucked it in too (any chance of actually tracking down the reference to the law?)

Numero Six - I've added a little bit about using your common sense and shouting and waving, also a bit about good looking people and buying drinks.

Think this is perhpas ready for picking. The Entry that is, not my nose. Any further ideas or points before I start nagging
PGHF

Nope - but just to say glad this is so good 'cos I was gonna rescue it myself... but you snuck in first and have obviously done a great job!



Jules

Actually - I did see this bit the other day and on second reading it's stuck out for me again:

'If you spill your drink it's a bit clumsy. You can get another'

Did you mean 'you can buy another'? Wouldn't want folk demanding free booze and blaming you!

As I said before - good stuff!

Jules

ah, yes. Never demanded free booze in me life
Jules. Have fixed up that buying issue.

Right, I'll leave this be now, as I think it's Scoutable now
PGHF

Yep it’s close but. . .

‘Always have a brief look and if the first impression is not okay, then walk away.’ Might need thinking about, you could miss out on some gems? - you do qualify it later but maybe this comment could be changed to ‘…then think about walking away.’

On the payment point, many pubs that serve a lot of food will encourage you to put drinks on a tab if you are ordering food – maybe worth a mention?

On the subject of rounds I used (in my youth) to drink in a quite large group and we put money into a “kitty”. This used to get so large we re-named it a “donkey”!

I’ve got about half way through re-reading – back soon…

Speller

Have added your recommendations Speller,
Donkey? I think our kitty got to elephantine proportions on occasions!
PGHF

Hi again PGHF!

I was just wondering whether you should have a footnote early on in the Entry linking 'pub' to 'public house'?

Just to be exceedingly pedantic

Oh dratsky - I see you already have this in one of your titles - but not the one on the current draft - which are you going to use?

um, that is a bone of contention eh what? What's the general consensus, pub in title or public house?
PGHF

A nice entry. As a well-seasoned (for my 25 years, leastways) expert on this subject, I have a few suggestions:

1) Footnote 2 mentions off-licences. Perhaps it would be a good idea here to give a brief explanation of the antiquated British on-/off-licensing laws, and mention that your Offy drink should NOT be brought back to the pub.

2) Footnote 5, with reference to tabs. It would probably be worth mentioning that a lot of pubs will take some degree of offence if you ask for credit, so it is advisable to become familiar with the place first.

3) You say a lot of pub food can be fantastic, but this is only a recent innovation. This guide surely wouldn't be complete without a mention of 'traditional'
chicken-and-scampi-in-a-basket-that-tastes-better-than-the-chips pub food, which is still widely available if you are not careful.

4) Fruit machines. Given this guide would be invaluable to North Americans, you may want to point out that British fruit machines bear no resemblence to the somewhat simpler American brands. It might also be worth mentioning the Quiz Machines that are slowly displacing the bandits for two reasons: 1) The pundit finds them more interesting and skillful; 2) They have no minimum payout limit, so they make more profit.

5) You talk briefly about different names for rooms. The majority of pubs though still have just two: the Lounge and the Bar; it might be worth pointing out that first-time or casual visitors are better advised to visit the Lounge.

6) Other popular pub games include Skittles (especially in the South-West) and Bar Skittles (the one where you swing the ball around the pole.

7) I'm not sure about 'tips being advisable in the North' - seems a bit patronising to me. In my experience, the best recipient of a tip is either a beautiful young lady or a young man who is rushed off his feet but terribly efficient.

8) Do we have room for those uniquely pub-based collectable items: beermats; bar towels; drip trays?

It is a good entry, though, honest.

B

I personally prefer 'English Pubs - A Users Guide' as the title and then a footnote fairly soon in the text saying that pub comes from 'public house'.

But that is only my opinion and there's no rhyme nor reason for it!

Jules

*cracks his knuckles* B, some fantabulous stuff there, I'll get writin' as soon as I canna...

Jules - I think your rhyming reasoning is valid, will change it



PGHF

Right, have reediited taking into account Mr B's insights
Hope it reads better now
PGHF