The beginning of the pubs – Part II

Dear friends of the interesting stories, the beer, and the English language, today we will introduce you the sequel of our article about the beginning of modern pubs in English lands. You will be able to learn easily with the help of our texts and advance in your education with interest and expand your vocabulary unnoticeably.

The 19th century was a period of development and renewal for the lands of our hosts. This was the century of a surge in industrial revolution, as well as a time of rapid population growth. It also meant more throats thirsty for beer. In the beginning, alehouses were still attached to private homes, and due to the poor condition of the rural roads and the difficulty of moving around, the only beer available was the one that was brewed by the owners of private homes. And the demand was huge. This led to a new law for breweries in 1830, which stimulated the brewing and distribution of beer and withdrew punishments for its sale. The public houses began to compete for the throats and pockets of their customers. This led to the separation from domestic agriculture to their individualization and to the pursuit of a unique, and memorable architecture.

The interior of alehouses also went through redevelopment. The picturesque bar tops, ornate mirrors, and generous amount of polished brass fittings personified the owners’ desire to make beer drinking a luxurious and memorable experience that would keep the beer lovers coming back again and again.

Meanwhile, beer production increased, and it became a tradition for breweries to own their own alehouses. By the end of the 19th century, more than 90% of the alehouses were owned by brewers. The competition became fierce, and manufacturers began to either destroy each other or merge. By the 80s, there were only 6 major brewers left in the UK. This led to an almost complete lack of competition and the country was forced to issue a decree that specified a limited number of breweries that a brewer could own in 1989. This had a positive effect on the sale of non-brewery beer and expanded the number of independent breweries.
Various laws in England and Wales restricted the opening hours of pubs in the early 20th century which led to the invention of “private parties” – when customers continued to drink after the official closing time of the pubs, using the excuse that it was a private party. The money was given in advance, before closing time, so that no money were exchanged with the owner after the announced hour. The sly patrons had won once again.

One of the most recent laws related to the pubs was the smoking ban, imposed in Great Britain in 2007,  and also contributed to the modern appearance of pubs. Initial fears that this would lead to a decline in alcohol sales, were unfounded.

Dear friends, don’t forget to read also the English version of our story via the language change button on the top right of the page ! Share your favorite pub with us on our Facebook page! Stay tuned for our next article!

Author: Iveta Radeva