Pubs

'As smooth as oil, sweet as milk, clear as amber and strong as brandy.' Boniface, in George Farquhar's play The Beaux Stratagem, describing Lichfield ale. Farquhar was one of the visitors to Lichfield in the eighteenth century when the city was notorious for its many pubs and brothels. Today, thankfully, only its pubs are famous and continue to add colour to this fine Georgian city. The great medieval cathedral forms a magnificent backdrop to the many pubs of the city, some of which were visited by Lichfield's most famous son, Samuel Johnson, whose brooding statue can be found in the city's market square. Many of Lichfield's ancient pubs, some of them old coaching inns from the days of stagecoaches and highwaymen, are still in existence; others, sadly, have gone. This book tells the story of those lost pubs – where they were and why they disappeared – as well as examining those that still grace the city, tracking their history through the centuries and telling their many uplifting, sad, and sometimes strange stories. Find out about haunted pubs, the pub where an army regiment was founded and the two rival inns where political parties encouraged mob violence in the street that separated them. Lichfield Pubs is a book that residents and visitors alike will not want to miss.

The pubs of Stoke are numerous, and each has its own fascinating tale to tell. While many have been lost due to time, money or misfortune, the stories and memories live on. As one of the key centres of the Industrial Revolution, the development of Stoke-on-Trent into the expanded city we know today was heavily influenced by this major event. In fact, it was the development of the Potteries industry in particular that had a lasting effect on Stoke. The introduction of such big industries brought about major population growth in the town, and the workers and growing communities needed a place to socialise and relax. Well researched and beautifully illustrated, Stoke-on-Trent Pubs takes a journey through the city's inns and taverns, stopping off for a pint, a chat and a bit of history along the way.

Manchester is a modern and cosmopolitan city that is also home to a range of old and traditional public houses. Many of these establishments have retained their distinctive heritage, with some dating back to early modern times and many having witnessed key moments in the city's fascinating past. The nineteenth century in particular was a pivotal time in Manchester's history, and middle- and working-class daily life outside the factory was often centred around the inn, pub or alehouse. One's 'local' was a focal point for sociability, a centre for transportation, discussing politics, business transactions, and hosting meetings. This was also a key time for legislation that impacted on drink culture. The 1830 Beer Act and the arrival of the beerhouse radically changed the nature of drinking in the city. Brewing giants began to monopolise the industry by mopping up hostelries in an ever-growing tied-house system, which affected the style and quality of pubs, and these effects can often be seen in pubs that have survived into modern times, mainly through their architecture and design. Despite a current climate of pubs closing on a regular basis, the pub as an institution constantly reinvents itself to survive and many of Manchester's old-fashioned hostelries sit alongside modern offices and apartments. In this book, author Deborah Woodman takes an engaging and illuminating look at pubs in the city centre, which highlights a novel aspect of Manchester's history. Featuring a superb selection of colour and black and white images, Central Manchester Pubs will be of interest to locals, visitors and all those with connections to this exciting city.

Thornbury Pubs From Old Photographs offers a captivating glimpse into the history of some of Thornbury's most famous pubs. This charming collection of photographs provides the reader with a visual representation of the pubs, the workers, the owners and brewery transport as well as beer-mats, advertising signs and other ephemera associated with the industry. This eclectic, carefully chosen collection, accompanied by factual captions, is not only an insight into the history and life of the pubs in this area but is also a valuable record of a bygone age and an industry that has sadly declined in modern times.

As a market town conveniently located on major transport routes, Loughborough historically has offered visitors and inhabitants a large number of drinking establishments – pubs, taverns, coaching inns, post houses, alehouses – and the town was once home to the extensive Midland Brewery Company on Derby Road, close to the canal. As the town grew rapidly during industrialisation, the demand for more inns, beerhouses and off-licences grew too and, in 1889, 264 establishments were licensed to sell beer in Loughborough. By the twenty-first century this had shrunk to around a fifth of this. In this book author Lynne Dyer surveys drinking establishments in Loughborough that were in existence immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic and those that have reopened since that time, tracing their history and fortune. Included are historic buildings such as the Loughborough Arms in Baxter Gate, originally a coaching inn on the Earl of Moira's land known as Rose and Crown; the Royal Oak on Leicester Road, built to serve the turnpike road, which also hosted auctions and inquests; and the Paget Arms, a fine red-brick building on the corner of Paget Street and Oxford Street, built at the centre of a Victorian housing development for workers in Loughborough's expanding industries. Also featured are recently constructed pubs such as The Project in Market Street. In Loughborough Pubs, author Lynne Dyer takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the town's watering holes, many of which have retained features and traditions of previous ages. Brimming with quirky tales and facts, this carefully crafted guide initiates readers into the fascinating history of Loughborough's pubs.

North Shields and Tynemouth, historically united, lie on the north bank of the River Tyne. North Shields grew up as a fishing port serving the Priory of Tynemouth on the headland. As other industries moved into North Shields, particularly shipbuilding, the town expanded from its site along the riverbank to accommodate the workers, absorbing villages nearby. Latterly, much of the town, including its historic quayside area, has been regenerated. Nearby Tynemouth remained smaller and today attracts many visitors to its beaches and historical landmarks, particularly the castle and priory. In North Shields & Tynemouth Pubs, author Eileen Burnett takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the towns' watering holes. Many of the pubs have retained features and traditions of previous ages, and she reveals the variety of North Shields' and Tynemouth's pubs, including the characters that have frequented or run the public houses over the years. Brimming with quirky tales and fascinating facts, this carefully crafted guide initiates readers into the history of North Shields' and Tynemouth's pubs.

Situated on the Firth of Tay, Dundee is Scotland's fourth largest city and was once a major east coast trading port. The Industrial Revolution heralded a time of great expansion, notably with the jute industry, and with its marmalade and publishing industries the city became famous for 'the three Js' – jute, jam and journalism. After its post-war decline, Dundee embarked on an ambitious regeneration programme and in 2014 it was chosen as UNESCO's first City of Design. In 2018 the design museum V&A Dundee opened on the waterfront, and the dynamic city now attracts many visitors to explore its rich heritage and vibrant culture. In the late nineteenth century, Dundee was estimated to have more pubs per head of population than anywhere else in Scotland as well as several breweries. In spite, or perhaps because of this, the city later returned Britain's only prohibitionist Member of Parliament, Edwin Scrymgeour. Many fin pubs were lost in the redevelopments of the 1960s and 1970s and more recent years have seen others disappear as social habits continue to change. The city still boasts many outstanding and historic pubs, though, some of them now listed buildings, and each with a fascinating story to tell. In the wake of the opening of the V&A Dundee – and the subsequent increase in visitor numbers – a new breed of interesting and quirky bars has opened, some of them giving fresh purpose to historic buildings. In Dundee Pubs, author Brian King takes the reader on a fascinating tour of the city's most interesting, oldest and famous watering holes. Along the way he answers such questions as how did the Phoenix get its name and just who was Doc Stewart? Illustrated throughout, this book will be of interest to local residents, those with connections to the city and visitors.

Clerkenwell and Islington are two of London's most historic districts; areas where radicalism once thrived and heavy industry flourished, and where poverty and lawlessness were commonplace. This diverse and colourful history can be traced in the area's many pubs. The ancient parish of Clerkenwell, located just outside the City of London's walls, was historically the home of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem. Later, it became famous for its watchmaking and printing industry. Dickens knew Clerkenwell, and it features in Oliver Twist, while it was here that Vladimir Lenin sowed the nascent seeds of Communism and in Little Italy Garibaldi was welcomed as a hero. But revolution and picking pockets is thirsty work, and the area's pubs were plentiful and varied. Islington, further north, was once a country retreat far away from the noise and industry of the city, but today this once solidly working-class area, now favoured by the rich and the famous, is boisterous and busy and boasts a mixture of traditional hostelries, gastropubs and craft beer bars. Clerkenwell and Islington Pubs takes an historical, and sometimes contemporary, look at some of the area's most interesting watering holes; drinking destinations that down the years have played host to a varied cast of characters that includes the likes of Samuel Pepys, Joe Orton, The Clash, U2, George Orwell and even James I.

Pubs were an important part of our social history because they were, and still are to some extent, the working man's front parlour. In the pub or beer house our ancestors could meet with their friends, with an endless supply of liquid refreshment to dull their senses and blot out the misery of their daily grind.The pubs of Nuneaton were, and still are, a resort of comfort in times of relaxation, in distress and marital infidelity. Back then they became political headquarters, a home of sporting clubs and friendly societies and a venue for entertainments such as darts and dominoes – which were all taken seriously. Pub-goers, like actors on a stage, played out their part at the bar as the soap opera of their lives was forgotten. In Nuneaton Pubs, Peter Lee explores how public houses thrive today, with a new clientele, new decor, and different (or indifferent) beer, and shows that the pub continues to form an essential and integral part of the history and social fabric of our towns.

The City of London, the fabled 'Square Mile', is the financial hub of world trade. It is also an area with a rich and almost tangible history, a history that is reflected in its colourful and varied selection of pubs and watering holes. The city can boast one of the greatest densities of pubs anywhere in the world, and these pubs range from seventeenth-century taverns dating from just after the Great Fire of 1666 through to swish and hip modern bars catering for today's modern 'city worker'. Amazingly there has been no dedicated book about the City of London's pubs in over forty years. Given the area's growing residential population, the hundreds of thousands who work there during the week and the huge number of tourists that visit every year, the time is right for a new guide to the city's diverse and myriad pubs.

Brothels and taverns, alehouses and inns, Portsmouth has seen it all. Many of the old port's drinking establishments have historic and literary associations, as well as stories of their own to tell. Most of the older ones can be found in and around Old Portsmouth, including the survivors of the numerous pubs that once clustered around the dockyards, providing food and drink for naval personnel and other seafarers. Others date from the expansion of the city beyond the old defences and became focal points for new communities. Even the newest have characters of their own and those on the waterside, such as at Spice Island and Langstone Harbour, allow the pleasure of enjoying a drink while taking in views of everyday port life. Author Steve Wallis takes a unique and affectionate 'pub-crawl' through the watering holes of Portsmouth, looking at those that have survived town planning, management companies, and economic downturn, and the changing and evolving use of the much loved 'local'. As they turn each page, readers can mingle with the locals, encounter the odd ghost, gasp at grisly tales and generally enjoy the rich tapestry of Pompey's drinking life.

One of the UK's largest cities, Leeds is a major commercial, financial and cultural centre in West Yorkshire. Leeds Pubs is like a good pub: accessible, friendly and rewarding. It is an engaging guide to the best pubs in the city of Leeds and its surrounding suburbs. The book describes in detail and illustrates seventy or so of the city's pubs, inns and bars, including some that no longer exist or have changed their use. Each pub has a unique story to tell, so the history and development of these pubs is filled with information on origins, the clientele they were built to cater for, significant events and how the pubs got their names or what their names signify. The pubs include the world-famous Whitelock's and The Who Live at Leeds in Leeds University Refectory, the wonderful Griffin and the Scarbrough Hotel, and the many pubs run by Leeds Brewery, Tetley's, Kirkstall Brewery, Timothy Taylor and others. Author Paul Chrystal presents an informative practical guide for anyone strolling in and around Leeds who wants to learn some local history in the most convivial of ways.

Mumbles and the Gower peninsula occupy a very special corner of Wales that has much history and folklore. The peninsula was Britain's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and many visitors are attracted to its beautiful beaches and stunning landscape. This fascinating new book about its inns and taverns encapsulates much of the area's history and character. Mumbles is a village by the sea once well known for oyster fishing, limestone quarrying and the Mumbles Train. The 'Mumbles Mile' became famous as a pub crawl in the 1970s but it was in business a very long time before that. The Welsh Sunday Closing Act of 1881 resulted in so-called 'travellers' taking advantage of a loophole and flocking to Mumbles in their thousands on Sundays and doing their best to drink the pubs dry. This and many other stories are related here, including those times when Dylan Thomas 'communed with those two legendary creatures, the Antelope and the Mermaid'. Gower's past includes many stories of shipwrecks and smuggling and its pubs played their part in this as well. The characters featured include Petty Officer Edgar Evans, who accompanied Captain Scott on his ill-fated journey to the South Pole, and the folk singer Phil Tanner, known as the Gower Nightingale, who married the landlady of the Welcome to Town in Llangennith over a century ago. This well-researched book relates the history of the area's pubs from backstreet locals to smart hotels and will delight all lovers of ale and anecdote.

Ipswich is a brewery town. The administrative centre of the agricultural county of Suffolk, world famous for its barley and brewing, Ipswich was for decades the home of the Cobbold (later Tolly Cobbold) brewery, which was not only a prominent local employer but influenced the development of the town, through the Cobbold family's interest in and patronage of sport, the arts, and politics. Ipswich is also a town of pubs. From the Middle Ages, when its taverns were filled with pilgrims to its famous shrine and many religious houses, through to the twentieth century when local brewers provided refreshment to factory workers and visitors to the busy port. This book is a record of that history – Ipswich's breweries, public houses, taverns and inns, many of which no longer exist. It uses historical records and local sources to bring them back to life as an intrinsic part of the town's history and culture, bringing it right up to date with a look at its thriving present-day pub scene, illustrated by a large number of old and new photographs.

The Berkshire town of Windsor has a rich royal history and you'll find no better illustration of this than in its many and varied old hostelries. People have been enjoying the hospitality offered by the town's watering holes since William the Conqueror first built a castle here in the eleventh century. Today, that reputation continues as a lively mix of locals and tourists look to quench their thirst.From bustling alehouses that maintain a live music scene through to traditional taverns offering a more sedate atmosphere redolent of a seemingly bygone age, this book will guide you through the town's pub landscape.

Liverpool was once the epitome of 'the city with a pub on every corner', but no longer. As social habits and communities continue to radically change, hundreds of pubs continue to disappear annually, and mostly without trace except in memories. However, not all have been lost. Right across the heart of this European Capital of Culture and UNESCO World Heritage City, Liverpool still boasts many outstanding and historic pubs, each with fascinating tales to tell.Every year, millions of people from around the globe come to visit this world-class city and Liverpool's pubs feature high on their lists of essential places to visit. Here, they enjoy some of the finest ales, and experience one of the most hospitable places in Britain. In Liverpool Pubs, and with fascinating stories and pictures, respected local historian Ken Pye provides an indispensable guide, and a temptation, for even more people to come and discover the very best of these alehouses for themselves.

The hamlet of Worthing began to develop as a fashionable seaside resort during the late eighteenth century. It attained town status in 1803 when its administration was invested in a board of commissioners that first met at the Nelson Hotel. Inns of greater antiquity were the White Horse at West Tarring, the Maltsters Arms at Broadwater and the Anchor in Worthing High Street. Other well-established pubs, such as the town centre Warwick and the Cricketers at Broadwater, began as basic beer retailers and brewing victuallers of the early Victorian period. Several pubs in the area are of architectural interest. The ornate Grand Victorian opened in 1900 as the Central Hotel, the half-timbered design of the Thomas á Becket (1910) was in homage to the nearby medieval Parsonage Row cottages, while the imposing Downlands was built in 1939 in the classic roadhouse style. Worthing Pubs takes us on a fully illustrated tour of the historical hostelries in the district, yet also acknowledges how the local drinking culture has been shaped by the contemporary craft-beer bar and the burgeoning micropub scene.

Oxford is known throughout the world as a great centre of history and learning, with hundreds of thousands of visitors coming every year to soak up the atmosphere of its colleges, museums, medieval streets and beautiful green spaces along the Thames and Cherwell rivers. Its pubs are very much part of that appeal, from taverns down narrow alleyways that date back hundreds of years to more contemporary hostelries that still doff their caps to tradition. Every kind of person who lives in Britain lives in Oxford and its pubs reflect that rich diversity. Follow in the footsteps of Inspectors Morse and Lewis as you mull over the events and personalities that have shaped this great city and learn the stories behind some of the most intriguing pub names in Britain, such as Far from the Madding Crowd, the Turf Tavern and Three Goats' Heads. Every pub has a tale to tell, and whether you live in Oxford or come from afar, you will find this an invaluable companion as you make your way around the 'city of dreaming spires'.

Within Conwy's striking medieval walls is a treasure trove of historic taverns and inns. For centuries visitors and locals alike have whiled away their time within them, seeking solace, catching up with friends, and raising a toast or two. Although some old alehouses are no longer trading, the town and surrounding area still boast more than their fair share of quaint, cosy and fascinating establishments in which to enjoy a drink. Peter Johnson and Catherine Jefferis take the reader in and around Conwy, recounting tales of the more colourful characters and events in the history of the area's inns. Conwy & District Pubs is beautifully illustrated with over seventy full-colour images, in addition to a number of charming historical pictures that provide a glimpse into the past of these intriguing Welsh pubs. It has much to offer Jackdaws (those born and bred within the town walls) and other birds of a feather keen to experience the area's most charismatic, oldest or unusual establishments

Brighton has long been an important seaside town, and today draws in visitors from all over Britain and beyond for its varied nightlife, rich history and attractive waterfront. In 1800, Brighton had forty-one inns and taverns, and by 1860 there were well over 450, echoing the town's growth in popularity through the Regency and early Victorian eras. A recent resurgence of interest in real ale has also seen a welcome boom in micro-breweries, placing Brighton firmly on the beer-lover's map. David Muggleton takes us on a tour of these watering holes, including the long-established venerable Greyhound, elegant Regency Cricketers, high-Victorian Colonnade, elaborate mock-Tudor King & Queen and the English Renaissance revivalist Good Companions, the pub reputed to have opened on the very day that the Second World War began. Brimming with quirky tales and fascinating facts, this carefully crafted guide initiates readers into the fascinating history of Brighton's pubs.

Ever since it was the starting point for voyages of discovery to the New World, the old port of Bristol has boasted a wealth of taverns, inns, alehouses, and public houses. Most of the older drinking establishments that have survived have stories to tell – frequently quirky or surprising, but always interesting and often with nautical links. Some involve real historical figures such as Daniel Defoe and Alexander Selkirk, the model for Robinson Crusoe, while others are connected with fictional characters like Long John Silver. And some were used by smugglers, press gangs, privateers and out-and-out pirates. Local author James MacVeigh takes the reader on a fascinating journey through some of Bristol's oldest and most notorious watering holes. He explores their histories and hidden secrets and tells of the many characters that have frequented or run the city's public houses.

Once a small fishing hamlet, the origins of modern Bognor Regis lie in the attempt by Sir Richard Hotham to develop this part of the south coast as a fashionable resort in the late eighteenth century. Hotham's original profession is given in the name of the town's JD Wetherspoon outlet, the Hatter's Inn, while the pub originally called the Railway Tavern has recently been renamed the Hothampton Arms in memory of Hotham's preferred name for his resort. The oldest pub still trading in the town is the William Hardwicke, which was built by 1817 as the New Inn. Bognor expanded with the arrival of the railway in 1864, which led to the building of new pubs such as the Terminus and the development of those already existing such as the Alexander Tavern. David Muggleton takes us on a walking tour of this seaside town's finest pubs, taking in the ex-Berkeley Arms, now home to the town museum; the Claremont Inn, whose interwar interior makes it a CAMRA heritage pub of some regional importance; and the Punch & Judy, originally the Orlando, but recently renamed as a reminder of the Tony Hancock film The Punch & Judy Man, filmed partly on location in the town. Well researched and beautifully illustrated, Bognor Regis Pubs provides something for everyone, whether they have lived in this venerable old seaside resort all their lives or are visiting this part of the West Sussex coast for the first time.

Blackpool isn't a particularly old town and its rapid development has primarily been fuelled by tourism in the last 150 years or so. To cater for the millions of visitors that arrive each year, Blackpool has more licensed premises than anywhere else in the country outside of Central London. Like most other towns though, redevelopment of areas and the changes in social behaviour has led to many pubs being closed or restyled. Allan Wood and Chris Bottomley present an excellent collection of photographs from which the reader will glimpse some of Blackpool's 'lost' pubs as well as the town's more popular watering holes and established locals.

Canterbury is a colourful and cosmopolitan city that manages to combine a rich and often dramatic history with a vibrant contemporary feel. You'll find no better illustration of this coming together of the old and the new than in the city's diverse variety of pubs. From hostelries of genuine antiquity through to battered old backstreet boozers, and from cutting-edge brewpubs to craft-beer bars, this cathedral city really does offer something for everyone. People have been enjoying the hospitality offered by Canterbury's many watering holes since before the city was immortalised by Chaucer back in the fourteenth century. Today that reputation continues as a teeming mix of locals, students, tourists and modern-day pilgrims look to quench their thirst. From bustling alehouses that maintain a live music scene echoing the Canterbury sound of the late 1960s, through to traditional taverns offering a more sedate atmosphere redolent of a seemingly bygone age, this book will guide you through the city's unique pub landscape.

The pubs of South Tyneside are numerous and each has its own fascinating history. From enjoying a post-work tipple to celebrating the football result on a Saturday evening, the pub is the hub of the community and an iconic part of Britain's high streets. Local author and historian Eileen Burnett traces the history of South Tyneside's drinking establishments, from South Shields to Hebburn, taking in the landlords, notable characters, stories and a pint or two along the way. South Tyneside Pubsprovides something for everyone, whether they have lived in South Tyneside all their lives or they are just visiting this part of the North East.

Ever since the days when it was reconstructed as one of King Alfred's burhs (fortified towns), Lewes has experienced a wealth of taverns, inns, alehouses, and public houses. Today the erstwhile county town of Sussex has a range of pubs that reflect this interesting, quirky, affluent yet also sometime fiercely independent and radical town.Author Kevin Newman takes the reader on a fascinating journey through Lewes' watering houses past and present. He explores the trivial, the unknown, the spooky, the unusual and the achievements that have taken place in the town's pubs. He also tells of the many characters that have frequented or run Lewes' public houses, including the pub that stands on the site of the UK's highest death toll from an avalanche. Lewes Pubs tells many fascinating tales and will make locals and visitors alike want to visit one of the town's taverns straight away.

Sheffield is the fourth-largest city in England and was where the Industrial Revolution began in earnest. It is renowned for its high-quality steel and fine cutlery, for its two large universities and for having, when it was built, the biggest shopping centre in Europe, yet there is so much more to know about this proud South Yorkshire city. As in many places, these pubs grew up with the city, both shaping and being shaped by its changing prosperity through the years.In Sheffield Pubs, Ian Rotherham, Christine Handley and Michael Liversidge present an excellent collection of photographs from which the reader will glimpse some of Sheffield's oldest pubs as well as the town's more popular watering holes and established 'locals'.

The significant historical and social differences between these two neighbouring towns are vividly brought into focus by the variation in pubs and other hostelries that have existed, or still exist, in each. Harrogate is a relatively new town which catered for the burgeoning spa trade facilities of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, while Knaresborough is an ancient market town that served farmers and tradesmen who flocked to the market there each week for centuries, as well as workers in local industries. Many of Knaresborough's old inns and pubs survive to refresh what is still a vibrant market town, while Harrogate is now a leading conference centre offering a multitude of pubs and hotel bars. This fascinating new book describes and depicts the many inns, pubs, beerhouses and bars that characterise both towns, with intriguing and often little-known information about their histories and the people who ran them, drank or occasionally died in them.

Despite its relatively small size, the city of St Andrews boasts more than its fair share of pubs. With most contained within the boundaries of the medieval town centre, each offers its own long and unique history. Discover the tales behind the names, explore the town's best '19th holes', where golf legends of the past and present have enjoyed a drink, or relax in the basement bar where Prince William and Kate Middleton famously courted. From the traditional pub, such as the Central, a long-established pub with a large central bar, to the modern pub, such as the Rule, providing contemporary facilities within a historic building, St Andrews has a pub to suit everyone.

Southwark is one of London's oldest and most intriguing neighbourhoods; a hotbed of culture and commerce that has played a major part in the development of the capital. Its streets were familiar to Shakespeare and Dickens, both of whom surely drank, schemed and dreamed in the many inns and taverns that abounded. This is where Chaucer's pilgrims began their long march to Canterbury, and many centuries later it was a major terminus for the many coaches that served the south of England. Four hundred years ago Londoners flocked to the area to watch the latest Shakespeare play at the Globe, or perhaps to visit one of the area's numerous brothels. Bear-baiting and dogfighting were popular attractions, too. People still pour into the area, although these days in search of more innocent pleasures such as high art at the Tate Modern, the foodie haven that is Borough Market or to catch a performance at the recreated Globe on Bankside. The one thing that has remained the same across the centuries is the diversity and quality of the area's many pubs. Southwark Pubs offers an historical guide to some of the borough's most fascinating hostelries, from London's last surviving galleried coaching inn to the Thameside tavern that waved the Pilgrim Fathers off on their first voyage to America. There is a drop of liquid London history for the lover of ale and anecdote alike.

There's nothing quite like a refreshing drink after a day on the fells and hills of the Yorkshire Dales. Scenic beauty, majestic views, impressive crags, towering cliffs, peaceful tarns, extensive caves and picturesque villages that are rich with the heritage and culture of more than a thousand years and visited by millions of people every year. And those who work within this stunning countryside ensure that the Dales and its communities continue to be vibrant for future generations. At their hub are inns that tell their own tales, cornerstones of local communities which reflect the social and economic story of a region that is evolving every day. In this book, we chart twenty-five of the best pubs in the Yorkshire Dales and find out why they have become favourites for so many over the years. Discover the inn that was frequented by playwright J. B. Priestley and still holds a traditional land-letting auction each year; the one that used to be the site of local trials and find the original Woolpack ... that serves beer in a very special way. Visit pubs that are tap houses, house waterfalls, display quirky signs, have impressive features, produce great food, play great music and so much more.

The teeming nature of life in eighteenth-century Edinburgh elevated the Old Town's taverns to a critical role in the city's social life, and there was 'no superabundance of sobriety in the town'. Much of the business life of the city was carried out in taverns where it was even normal for doctors to consult their patients. The Edinburgh taverns of the eighteenth century are described as having 'a coarse and darksome snugness which was courted by their worshippers'. These earlier basic hostelries were swept away during the period 1880–1910, which is recognised as the golden age of pub design. These new pubs were decorated with an abundance of spectacular ornaments to attract customers into their shining interiors. This book won't tell you how many real ales or malts the pubs stock or whether the burgers are worth popping in for. What it does provide is a record of Edinburgh Pubs that are architectural gems of exceptional quality or which have a particularly interesting historical association.

The Kent coastal towns of Whitstable and Herne Bay are 5 miles apart, but are very different in character. However, they are united in having a wealth of diverse and colourful pubs. Whitstable, over the past decade or so, has become one of the most fashionable destinations in the UK, attracting hundreds of thousands of well-heeled tourists every year, both from the UK and abroad. The town also hosts a highly regarded literary festival and also a biannual contemporary art festival. Whitstable's many pubs are central to both events and all year round play a major part in the town's culture. Herne Bay has lived in Whitstable's trendy shadow for some time now, but over the past two years has been developing a character all of its own. It now combines elements of a traditional English seaside town with a number of increasingly upmarket elements and a diverse range of pubs.

Newcastle-under-Lyme manages to combine a rich and often dramatic history with a vibrant contemporary feel. You'll find no better illustration of this coming together of the old and the new than in the town's diverse variety of pubs. From hostelries of genuine antiquity through to battered old backstreet boozers, and from cutting-edge brewpubs to craft-beer bars, this Staffordshire market town really does offer something for everyone. People have been enjoying the hospitality offered by Newcastle's many watering holes since the days when the town was a major producer of clay smoking pipes. Today, that reputation continues as a teeming mix of locals, students and tourists look to quench their thirst. From bustling alehouses that maintain a live music scene through to traditional taverns offering a more sedate atmosphere redolent of a seemingly bygone age, this book will guide you through the town's pub landscape.

The drinking establishments of Saxon Chester are a mystery to us. The nineteenth-century historian Thomas Hughes wrote, 'Anglo-Saxons had their eala-hus [ale house], win-hus [wine house] and cumen-hus [inn]'. We don't know where they could have been located, but we do know that weak beer was the staple drink throughout the land because it was safer to drink than water. Chester has many cosy, historical and picturesque public houses, some that have served the public for hundreds of years. Chester pubs, like those throughout the country are going through a time of radical change. Reinvented for a new generation of patrons, many of the pubs have turned into gastro and themed pubs and bars. Within the pages of the Chester Pubs you will find a mixture of typical pubs from down the ages, some from a long way down, and a few of the newer bars.

Poole is one of the largest natural harbours in the world and the port itself has a long trading history dating back to Roman times. It is still a working port, particularly on the southern side, where many half-constructed Sunseeker yachts can be seen. This side also includes a ferry terminal and container port. On the northern side a fishermen's dock nestles incongruously adjacent to a yachting marina, which houses many luxurious vessels, most of which would have been built across the water. The Quay and Old Town contain numerous cobbled streets and alleyways with historic buildings, some dating back to the fifteenth century. Many of the town's pubs are situated in these areas and their chequered maritime history, including pirates and smugglers, is reflected in these pubs. In Poole Pubs author Andrew Jackson takes the reader on a fascinating journey through Poole's watering holes. Many of the pubs have retained features and traditions of previous ages, and he reveals the variety of Poole's pubs today including the characters that have frequented or run the public houses over the years. Brimming with quirky tales and intriguing facts, this carefully crafted guide initiates readers into the history of Poole's pubs.

Leicester's pubs have always been more than mere watering holes. They are where businesses were created, battle plans drawn up and where murderers once faced up to their crimes. Richard III spent his final night in Leicester at the Blue Boar in Highcross Street. Nathaniel Corah began his textile manufacturing empire, which employed thousands of Leicester people, at the Globe on Silver Street in 1815. Condemned prisoners on the way to the gallows at Red Hill were allowed a final drink at the Talbot Inn in Belgrave where there are still ghostly sightings, and at the Belper Arms in Newton Burgoland 'Five to four Fred' makes his presence felt precisely at that time. Other local taverns are frequented for specific purposes, such as those near the Leicester Royal Infirmary's Maternity Unit where fathers-to-be and new fathers steady their nerves or celebrate the arrival of their offspring. Now, in the Stoneygate suburb, there's even a Real Ale Classroom complete with blackboard and school bells where customers can be educated about beer. Leicester Pubs is a 'pub tour with culture', reflecting Leicester's history through the colourful stories of its inns and taverns.

Coventry city centre has suffered greatly over the years at the hands of German bombers and city planners, but head out to its Victorian suburbs and you'll find a diverse variety of pubs, from hostelries of genuine antiquity through to battered old boozers, and from cutting-edge brewpubs to craft beer bars. Local pub historian Fred Luckett takes us on a tour of the city's finest and most characterful drinking establishments. From bustling alehouses that maintain a live music scene through to traditional taverns offering a more sedate atmosphere redolent of a seemingly bygone age, this book will guide you through the city's pub landscape.

There are few more quintessentially English experiences than supping a pint of ale in a centuries-old public house, where the walls could tell you stories. The East End of London is awash with such places, remarkably so in some respects, given the destruction wreaked by the Great Fire of London, Second World War bombs and post-war planners. Some were around before Shakespeare; others are comparatively recent Victorian additions – but all have a fascinating story behind them. Journalist and broadcaster Johnny Homer traces the history of the East End's drinking establishments, taking in the landlords, notable characters, stories and a pint or two along the way. Well researched and beautifully illustrated, London's East End Pubs provides something for everyone, whether they live in this vibrant part of London or are visiting for the first time.

Nottingham has long been famed for its pubs. In the Middle Ages the city was already a prosperous centre of trade for the East Midlands, and three of its pubs date from this era – Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, the Salutation and The Bell Inn. The city continued to grow during the Industrial Revolution, attracting many new industries such as lace making, bicycle manufacture and tobacco, and many new pubs were opened. The city continues to thrive and is today the largest city in the East Midlands. In Nottingham Pubs, author Dave Mooney takes the reader on a fascinating journey through some of the city's most interesting, oldest or most famous watering holes, following nine walks around different parts of Nottingham and nearby areas, including Kimberley, which was home to one of Britain's largest independent breweries until its closure in 2006. Many of the pubs have retained features and traditions of previous ages, and the variety of Nottingham's pubs today is revealed here, including the characters that have frequented or run the public houses, for which Nottingham is justly renowned.

York is the second-most visited city in the UK, attracting millions of visitors from all across the world who are spellbound by the city's medieval churches, quaint snickelways and its plentiful pubs. In 1663 it was recorded that York had 263 licensed public houses. As the population of York increased, so did the number of licensed pubs. Seebohm Rowntree's early twentieth-century survey revealed that York had one licensed establishment for every 230 people. The pubs that have survived into the modern era each have their own individual story to tell, a tale sure to entertain and fascinate while you sit perched at the bar. This book catalogues the most intriguing capers from the city's historic pubs and will give the reader an introduction to a fascinating alehouse-based history of York.

As a principal market town, many of Chichester's inns and taverns were established at an early date, including those offering hospitality for pilgrims travelling to the cathedral for worship at the thirteenth-century shine of St Richard. Of nearly all the medieval houses – such as the Tabard, the Star, and the Plough – nothing except names in old documents survives. The number of pub closures has escalated since the 1980s. Yet Chichester still has at least three pubs continuously trading since the eighteenth century, while several others now closed retain original architectural features worthy of note. The deregulation of the trade has also seen the emergence of contemporary café-bar-pubs, such as the Belle Isle. David Muggleton takes us on a tour of this compact but elegant city, taking in the classical Georgian Ship Hotel, where General Eisenhower stayed in the lead-up to D-Day; the mid-Victorian Four Chesnuts and the mystery of its missing 'T'; the gabled and jettied mock-Tudor Nags Head of 1925; and the Duke & Rye, recently established in a Gothic Revival church building.

The port of Kingston upon Hull is one of England's most historical and diverse cities, and boasts a wealth of taverns, inns, alehouses and public houses. Most of the older drinking establishments that have survived have stories to tell – frequently quirky or surprising, always interesting and often with nautical links, given the city's associations over the centuries with the fishing and shipbuilding industries.Author and historian Paul Chrystal takes the reader on a fascinating tour around some of the watering holes in the city and its surrounding villages, relating historical facts and dubious tales on subjects as diverse as the English Civil War, Philip Larkin, maritime matters and the slave trade. This book explores the histories and secrets, and tells of the many characters that have frequented or run the city's public houses. Hull Pubs will make locals and visitors alike want to visit at least one one of the city's venerable old taverns in the year Hull celebrates being UK City of Culture, and long afterwards.

The history of Greenwich is inseparable from its maritime history and royal palace. In later years, industries also built up along the River Thames' frontage, including the massive power station that powered London's tram and Underground systems. Today, the old industrial area on the peninsula in East Greenwich is home to the O2 dome. Greenwich's pubs reflect the town's history, from the Georgian Cutty Sark and Trafalgar Tavern on the river, to pubs serving the market, cinemagoers and residents. It is also the home of the Meantime Brewery, which acknowledges the Meridian Line centred on Greenwich. In Greenwich Pubs, author David C. Ramzan takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the area's watering holes, many of which have retained features and traditions of previous ages. Brimming with quirky tales and fascinating facts, this carefully crafted guide initiates readers into the fascinating history of Greenwich's pubs.

The Wirral peninsula encompasses a fascinating diversity of places. Bounded by the River Dee to the west and the Mersey Estuary to the east, this unique area includes urban and industrial centres such as Birkenhead and Wallasey, built around the docks, the towns of Hoylake, West Kirby and Heswall, the faded seaside resort of New Brighton, rural hinterland and the unique Port Sunlight model village. In Wirral Pubs, author Les Jones takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the area's watering holes, many of which have retained features and traditions of previous ages. Brimming with quirky tales and fascinating facts, this carefully crafted guide initiates readers into the fascinating history of the Wirral's pubs.

Dublin has had a long association with its pubs. The city grew rapidly in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, becoming a major port for trade around the world, and the city boasted a wealth of taverns, inns, alehouses and public houses. An important part of the city's prosperity was also the Guinness brewery, founded in Dublin in 1759 and becoming a major employer. Many drinking establishments have survived from these days and have stories to tell, often involving historical figures or even fictional characters. In Dublin Pubs, author Pat Dargan takes the reader on a fascinating journey through some of Dublin's most interesting, oldest or most famous watering holes. Many of the pubs have retained features and traditions of previous ages, and some are regarded as architectural gems. Pat reveals the variety of Dublin's pubs today and tells of the many characters that have frequented or run the public houses over the years, for which Dublin is justly renowned.

Guildford manages to combine a rich and often dramatic history with a vibrant contemporary feel. You'll find no better illustration of this coming together of the old and the new in the diverse variety of pubs in the town and its surrounding area. From hostelries of genuine antiquity through to traditional backstreet boozers and country gastropubs in pretty villages, this ancient county town and its beautiful nearby villages really do offer something for everyone. People have been enjoying the hospitality offered by Guildford's many watering holes for centuries. Today, that reputation continues as a teeming mix of residents, students and visitors look to quench their thirst. From bustling alehouses that maintain a live music scene through to traditional taverns offering a more sedate atmosphere redolent of a seemingly bygone age, this book will guide you through the area's pub landscape.