What makes a good local pub?
I ask because I went to the Gowlett in Dulwich last night, with friends who have been many times before.
They declared it to be an excellent 'local', one of the best you can get.
What do you look for in a a good local?
Good beer, well-kept. Reasonably-priced food options, but not so high up in the mix that the place feels more like a restaurant than a pub. Smiling service, recognition of regular custom. And no TV unless there's a high-profile sporting event on - who wants to sit in a pub where Loose Women and Homes Under the Hammer is on in the background?
Bar snacks are the key. No decent pub should be without hot and spicy Monster Munches, Mini Cheddars and cheesy Doritos. And if the soles of your shoes stick to the carpet, that's a bad thing.
Here is a great pub.....Maybe as I work here i am biased?
The Pigs is situated in the small village of Edgefield,Norfolk.The pub strives to provide the best experience when it comes to Great British Food and great ale.
http://www.thepigs.org.uk
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=297790723842&ref=nf
https://twitter.com/PigsPubNorfolk
We'll soon have rooms.....photos to follow!
Welcome to The Pigs Pub (soon with rooms!)
Looks like a great place, and the menu is making my mouth water - but what's a Biffin? And is "Iffits" a local phrase? I've never heard it before.
Ahhh The Biffin, it is our twist on a dish dating back to 1698. The Biffin/Beefing was an apple grown in Norfolk. The apple were baked slowly for 5 hours or so then pressed, and served cold. In the day people prefer hot cooked apple, so we adopt a similar cooking method, but stuff ours with a seasonal filling, lightly press them, and serve them warm with a good scoop of ice-cream.
With regards the Iffits, If it's in season, and If i'ts good we'll use it, like our take on Tapas, small bites, say two for a starter or amuse bouche to be restauranty! Something we started last year, and they've seemed to be very popular, served on a wooden plank to keep with the rural rustic feel of the pub.
Thaks for the positive words.
We'll soon have 3 rooms, exciting times.
If it's ... Love it!
Reminds me of Bumble's nickname for Jimmy Anderson, based on his variable bowling performances: "I call him Daisy, because some days he can and some days he can't ..."
PIGSWEBCHEF: Ahhh The Biffin, it is our twist on a dish dating back to 1698. The Biffin/Beefing was an apple grown in Norfolk. The apple were baked slowly for 5 hours or so then pressed, and served cold. In the day people prefer hot cooked apple, so we adopt a similar cooking method, but stuff ours with a seasonal filling, lightly press them, and serve them warm with a good scoop of ice-cream. With regards the Iffits, If it's in season, and If i'ts good we'll use it, like our take on Tapas, small bites, say two for a starter or amuse bouche to be restauranty! Something we started last year, and they've seemed to be very popular, served on a wooden plank to keep with the rural rustic feel of the pub. Thaks for the positive words. We'll soon have 3 rooms, exciting times.
That sounds great and really yummy!! Coming up to lunch time and I am getting hungry! Love the "Ifits" concept... brilliant!
Our local has changed hands. The previous landlady made every effort to avoid eye contact, kept the temperature low and had a hundred diferent excuses for the kitchen being "closed today". The current owners say "Hi Peter", stoke the fire in winter, serve good food, keep the beer pipes nice and clean and genarally make everyone welcome.
Before we had clean tap water, amost everyone in England knew how to brew their own beer. Those who had made too much for their own family would lean a broom against the front door to indicate the house was "open" to any visitors who fancied a pint. These evolved into the more formal "public houses" we have today but the principal is unchanged. A pint, perhaps a pie and a friendly welcome. Not rocket science but difficult to deliver every day and evening of the year with all the restrictions and costs of a 21st century environment.
Long live the local!
and there's 'withits' all the extras!
totally agree with Peter. When we moved to where we are now, my other half was very keen to establish himself with a "local". A few pints later (and the rest!), he was member of the pool team, darts team and official "local".
I never really got the whole "local" pub thing, but now I am more than happy to go to the pub without him and know that the staff will greet me by my name, and happily chat to me while I wait for hubby to turn up. Before I would be nervous going into a pub on my own...
Another great thing is that we've met an electrician, gardener and a plumber... which is great for when we need to call on a tradesman!
Your local sounds great! I could do with a list of local tradespeople (I'm v. PC dontcha know) - ones you can trust. I once toyed with the idea of doing a plumbing course so I could meet some.
I think what you described is what I look for in a local. Somewhere familiar and comfortable, where the vibe is welcoming and the people friendly. If you have all that, then good drinks/food/decor etc is a bonus. A welcome bonus.
I'm still looking...
good people, good beer and a great atmosphere. You almost want to feel at home with a local pub.
Here's a description by George Orwell of all the attributes his ideal pub would boast. He called it the Moon Under Water ...
... which brings me to fictional pubs we'd love to grab a beer in. Here are a few for starters: