Going for a drink

Pubs ( or public houses ) are found in most towns and villages, and are often the center of life in that area. People go there to have a drink, eat a meal, meet friends, listen to music and play games like darts.

Pubs often have two bars, one usually quieter than the other, and many have a garden where people can sit in the summer. Children can go in pub gardens with their parents, but can often only go inside a pub, with an adult, if they are over 14. Pubs can stay open from 11.00am to 11.00pm ( or until 10.30pm on Sundays ) and are usually open 365 days a year.

Most pubs belong to a brewery ( a company which makes beer ) but sell many different kinds of beer, some on tap (from a big container under the bar ) and some in bottles. The most popular kind of British beer is bitter, which is dark and served at room temperature ( not hot, not cold ). More popular today though is lager, which is lighter in color and served cold. Guinness, a very dark, creamy kind of beer called a stout, is made in Ireland and England and is very popular all over Britain.

In the West of England, cider, made from apples, is very popular. Like wine, it is described as sweet or dry, but it is drunk in beer glasses and can be stronger than beer.

While most food and drink in British supermarkets is now sold in liters and kilograms, beer and cider in pubs are still sold by the pint ( a pint is 568ml ) or half pint.