7 Ways British and American Pubs Are Very Different

[@clairenoon4070]

There's something wonderfully democratic about the British pub, in that most people use them (at least sometimes). A couple of weeks ago I had lunch in a 400 year old pub, in front of an open fire, quietly reading my book. Other customers included couples, small groups and other people on their own, across a wide range of ages. Staff took the time to have a brief chat with me but otherwise left me to my own devices. A perfect afternoon.

[@sleepyfox8983]

Not sure if the closing time thing is correct nowadays but we typically stay far later in a "lock-in" when the owner closes the doors, lets the locals stay, the beer flows free-ish, smoking is suddenly allowed inside, they're playing pool with you and shit gets crazy :)

[@marcwarren5985]

Haha yeah my mate owns a bar. Hes open til 12 for public then has a lock in with friends and staff til 5am sometimes. Ash trays are on the bar haha

[@grahvis]

I remember once walking back from the pub when my partner asked what the strange light was in the sky. I told her, that's the sunrise.

[@jonisilk]

Closing at 11pm is generally understood as "door's close" at 11pm. What follows is a "lock-in", where everyone still left in the pub will continue drinking until 1 or 2 in the morning.

[@CrazyInWeston]

Yeah but you gotta pay with cash as using your card will tip the government that the pub isnt closed and breaking the law/terms of their alcohol license.

[@geoffpriestley7001]

The tan hill pub had a 3 day lock in last week due to snow

[@tabitha4135]

@@geoffpriestley7001 lol 😆 are we crazy in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@tommywulfric9768]

Ah yes...a "stay behind" as I used to call it...🥴

[@petereastwood1]

When I visited the US back in 2000 I was shocked to see that bars were so often racially segregated (in effect). Different races seemed to have separate bars. We ended up walking into a Korean bar and it went deathly quiet, but being British (and thirsty) we completely ignored this and strode to the bar, which seemed to surprise the locals. They discovered our accents and we spent the entire evening there having a whale of a time. In the UK, a good pub is a melting pot of heritages, and all the better for it. Its the centre of the community, and with us having more integrated communities I guess it follows that we have more integrated pubs. (I know I'm generalising, plus it was 21 years ago).

[@sleepyfox8983]

Now that's interesting... I wonder where you are in the UK... conglomeration was something I found quite fascinating when I moved from England to Ireland, where people wearing suits and lads wearing trackies, elderly families and college students would all drink, sing and dance together, enjoying the music, without any notion of class or race. It was bloody refreshing. Back in England now and I find that we do tend to segregate a lot based on class/wealth in comparison... at least in the East Midlands... not just the patrons but the attitudes of the staff (if you don't look the part, you will get shit service and essentially you need to f off).

[@petereastwood1]

@@sleepyfox8983 I agree, which is why I carefully inserted the word good before pub.

[@Phil_A_O_Fish]

@@petereastwood1, your experience with you walking into a Korean bar reminds me of what happened to me when I walked into a black bar in San Francisco many years ago. I was alone at the time and there was only another one or two white men in there. With it being in that city it was also a gay bar and was located on Market Street which is not too far from Castro Street ( the main gay area of that city ). The couple of white men that were in there were Americans and were with their boyfriends. So if you can imagine this poor little white boy ( myself obviously ) unknowingly walking into a black gay bar then you can well imagine the looks that I got from all of the regulars in there, can't you? I got the same reaction as you did until I started talking to the barman and almost all of the men that were in there started firing questions at me about what the U.K. was like - on almost every subject imaginable. It turned out that I didn't have to buy a single drink all night because even the first one was paid for by one of the locals as soon as I ordered it and he came out with the typical line of " I love your accent...." and all of his friends and acquaintances in there followed suit and continued where he'd left off. The funniest part about it was that prior to going to San Francisco I'd been living in Canada for five years or so and my accent was a combination of British and Canadian but they all assumed that I'd come straight ( sorry, no pun intended ) from the U.K. to their city. We all had a great time talking about all of the cultural differences and social attitudes between all three countries and it ended up with me leaving there and travelling back to where I was staying by taxi. By the way, I'd told all of them that I wasn't attracted to black men during part of our conversations and they respected me for being so honest with them and they even said that they weren't used to such honesty coming out of the mouth of a white man in the U.S.A. and some of them even said that they couldn't wait to visit either Canada or the U.K. so that they could experience such liberalism for themselves.

[@jim4695]

@@sleepyfox8983 I think you're drinking in the wrong pubs then. I've just spent the evening downing Bass with a retired couple, a company director, a couple of unemployed chaps, a lorry driver, a Brickie and some students. Played 7 card brag (lost £4) and a great conversation about who the best ever goalkeeper was. A good pub is the soul of the town 👍

[@abmong]

City pubs maybe, but if you walk into a rural pub as a non white person you get dodgy looks and a moment of silence when you walk in.

[@carterlink]

Not one mention of pub food? Food is a huge part of many British pubs these days, since the drinking culture is changing and most establishments have to entice people in by other means than alcohol alone.

[@Shard3432]

pretty much all American "pubs" and "bars" offer food. actually a lot of them offer the same kinda thing, fish and chips, steak and chips etc.

[@sibionic]

Pub food tends to be shit though.

[@Shard3432]

@@sibionic it depends on the pub. Some are good, some are bad, such is the way with anything really.

[@sibionic]

@@Shard3432 I would say all chain/big brewery owned pubs - which alas is a sizeable portion of all pubs now - almost without exception have lousy kitchens and reek of malt vinegar and are awash with laminated menus and crappy 'condiment' trays. The best pubs are independent and have a reputation for food - so called 'gastro' pubs - and these can be as good as any restaurant. But not that common.

[@Shard3432]

@@sibionic I dunno I guess it depends on where you live. In Greater Manchester I find that most pubs nowadays are independent, mostly due to many of the chain ones failing.

[@jillhobson6128]

I can tell Laurence has been Americanised. We never say someone has been carded. We don't know what it means.

[@wulfrunian]

I was puzzled by that. Then he said something about ID, so I’m guessing it’s asking for an identity card which we don’t have here. I know when I was 18 I used to have to carry my driving licence, then a little red book, as I looked around 15.

[@andyjohnson4907]

I think most British people that watch movies know what that means.

[@jillhobson6128]

@@andyjohnson4907 I don't often watch films so "carded" doesn't mean anything to me or a lot of other Britons. It seems to be an American word.

[@Jtoothebbb]

Yeah I've never been carded but i get ID'd all the time

[@matthewwalker5430]

Of course us Brits know what it means. It means you've been booked for a foul, obviously

[@rogerwitte]

The best 'pub' experiences I have had in England have been sitting in the Beer Garden at the height of summer having Lunch and a couple of pints with some mates. I also have fond memories from my childhood of going with my parents to do this (although, of course I was only allowed to drink soda - children may be allowed in the beer garden but they are not allowed beer). Also dogs are sometimes allowed in pubs and beer gardens. I have heard of, but not personally observed, dogs being allowed a beer (unlike the children)

[@danosverige]

Dog's in pub's used to because it was an excuse to the "missus" to get out - "Just taking the dog for a walk love. Won't be long." .... and straight to the pub! Pub's back in the day resembled Vet's surgeries, there were so many dogs lying under tables! 😆

[@rachelsl4492]

@@danosverige they still do where I live in Herts, they even have snacks and water bowls for them. Also one pub, has a picture wall of the canine customers

[@DavidPaulMorgan]

my local pubs have always had some sort of games night or quiz night with the usual darts, pool or shove-ha'penny and colourful locals propping up the bar. Many traditional pubs are older than many nations of course, many dating back to medieval times and many 'Inns' were coaching stops with food, drink and stables.

[@He1sbelles]

I live near Oxford, and there's a pub five minutes walk from my house which was a particular favourite of President Clinton when he was a student here. Years ago, I had the unforgettable sight of a presidential motorcade rolling past the end of my street (had no idea it was coming, just a coincidence that I happened to see it go by). It was Bill, here to visit Chelsea when she was an Oxford student, on his way for a swift pint there for old times' sake. :) I'll be happy to buy you a drink, if you ever come to Oxford and don't mind hanging out with a middle aged woman! It's a very nice pub. Do an image search for the Trout inn, Oxford.

[@christinepreston8642]

I'm sure everyone would be up for taking you to the pub and buying you a drink!! I would!!

[@robertpaisley8643]

Yeah lol an then you may get lucky aft it. ! )) x

[@tommywulfric9768]

........until it's time for his round 🤣😂

[@lukeporcher6378]

Pubs closing times vary from 11pm - 2am (depending on the day of the week) in my experience

[@chrismackey9267]

Welcome to the UK Joel. Hope you enjoy your stay and meet lots of friendly folk and enjoy our countryside , history and heritage

[@101steel4]

I started going to pubs in England since I was about 14. All my mates did. We don't have compulsory ID in England, but never got asked anyway.

[@helenwood8482]

I don't believe you. Any pub that routinely allowed children to drink would lose its licence. I work in a shop and we have to ask for ID from anyone who looks under 25. If we sold alcohol to a 14 year old, we face serious legal consequences. If you are telling the truth, your parents and the owner of the pub should be locked up.

[@101steel4]

@@helenwood8482 haha this was back in the early 80s. A common thing back then.

[@chrisboult6610]

@@helenwood8482 you sound like a whole lot of fun

[@christinepreston8642]

@@helenwood8482 believe it!! Back in the late 70's and early 80's, my older brother and I were both locals to pubs (we went to different ones!) and started about 15yrs old with our friends. The pub owners rolled their eyes when we eventually celebrated our 18th birthdays!! My father often gave me a lift, so knew where I was (I had responsible parents!!) but sadly no longer with us, so too late to lock him up!!

[@ian_bradley]

@@helenwood8482 everyone turned a blind eye to this in the 70's n 80's when the pub trade only started to lift it's image and the laws became more stringent! So calm down a bit as the Challenge 25 thing only came into effect a few years ago, after Challenge 21 and Challenge 18 before it!...

[@joshmorgan389]

aww jps thinking that he could handle a night out drinking in the UK, practice lad, practice, avoid sambucca its game over juice haha

[@sleepyfox8983]

Hold up my man, what's Game Over juice? :p Sambucca used to be my friend but (speaking of differences in measurements) I was only used to our English 25ml shots... when I first moved to Ireland, I had a standard 35ml shot of the stuff and had to take a few moments to recompose haha x

[@UTRG-UnderTheRain]

Yeah avoid stella it has chemicals in it that make you aggressive and give you a brutal hangover

[@TomGodson95]

@@sleepyfox8983 😂

[@speleokeir]

@@UTRG-UnderTheRain Stella, aka 'Wife-beater' thanks to one of it's more notorious side-effects.

[@michaelfallon6561]

Lightweight

[@paulqueripel3493]

The number of people offering to take you drinking when you come to Britain means either A) you're going to spend the whole trip so drunk you won't remember any of it. B) an enormous group on a pub crawl. I haven't seen a darts board in any pub round here for many years, it takes up too much room that could be filled with drinkers. Same with pool tables.

[@lewisevans6633]

You should definitely do a fans meet up when you visit the UK. We'll teach you how it's done!

[@kevanwillis4571]

As a barman in Luxembourg I dreaded the new influx of American university students. They would come in ready to get 'f*cked up!!!!" Three drinks later they would be at least one of them throwing up. We sold Belgian Beers of 8 and 9%, not Bud Lite.

[@barrywilliams5515]

The best pubs these days are what are called Micro Pubs, we have a lot of them in Kent in particular, three in my home town alone. Small independent pubs that specialise in locally brews beers from small breweries with relatively low overheads. Friendly, great conversation and excellent beer.

[@paulhanson5164]

I'm quite happy for my local pub to shut at 11am, like a lot of UK pubs it is sat in the middle of a residential area. I can walk home from it in about a minute.

[@ja6h13]

I work in a pub! Love barwork. And trust me. You won’t be able to handle a night drinking in the uk!! We drink like there’s no tomorrow 😂 Also I pray you do a meet up with fans if u ever come to the uk 😂

[@GrafindeKlevemark]

When I was a uni student in the UK, we often went to the cinema. The problem was that in those days the pubs closed at 10 pm, so in a group one person had to volunteer (depending on the film) to rush to the pub before closing time and order the last round. As I wasn't very fond of beer or stronger alcohols and wine was not on the "menu", it was usually me. So I left with assurances that someone would tell me the end of the film - didn't happen very often as most of the group had already been drinking flashes in the cinema and were too pissed after the last glass in the pub to remember - those were the days !!!!

[@ianmcconnell12]

When was this in 1880 I’m 36 and I’ve never known the pubs to shut at 10pm

[@banana9106]

@@ianmcconnell12 They used to shut early on Sundays?

[@barrywilliams5515]

The closing time was 10.30pm on Sundays and 11pm every other day. Never 10pm.

[@kenthepen4857]

Here in the UK I've been going in pubs (to drink British Real Ale) for over 40 years and never once with the intention of getting pi$$ed. A waste of money and not much of a night out if (the next morning) I cant remember what happened! There are plenty of great pubs and beer over here so well worth a visit, you'll enjoy it!

[@shaunkeasey3674]

Sorry J but he's waaaaaaaay off the mark! The UK he describes is nothing like the one I live in! In my area most pubs are open until at least 2am... the nightclub I own is open 'til 6am! He's obviously led a very sheltered, dart board dominated, back street pub inhabiting life! Come on over and see for yourself! :-)

[@pubtalkpubtalk4642]

Big shout out to the Wolverhampton Crew.

[@DavidPaulMorgan]

there are lots of variations. most city centre smaller bubs & bottle bars it's last orders at 23:50 and 11:00 stop-tap. but many of the bigger ones are open until 00:00, 01:00 or even 02:00! 18 over here of course (with exceptions for over 14(?) & a meal with an adult. I like the craft ale bars like Brewdog, Tiny Rebel or the independents.

[@Robob0027]

Sheltered life? Yes probably Bus Shelters, Air Raid shelters and the like.

[@spacehopper77]

The 11pm pub closing time is in England. While in Scotland it is usual for pubs to open till midnight during the week and often 1pm or sometimes 2pm at the weekends. Then there are nightclubs which are even later. In many cities if you know where to go by moving from one establishment to the next you can often drink for near on 24hrs.

[@alfredoalejandro87]

As a Brit I can tell you right now I love Wetherspoons. No more congregating aroud the bar, instead you order from the app and they bring it to you. I can tell he hasn't been back in a while.

[@ClassicWorld19]

Wetherspoons fan here, too, for the same reason! 👍

[@glynsmith5508]

No atmosphere in any Witherspoon's...like drinking in the kitchen looking at the wall

[@MrSapperb3]

Love Wetherspoons. Me and my mates have at least one spoons sesh a month, but it’s not quite as good as the local with your mates and a few games of darts/pool and a lock-in for the regulars after

[@ianharris879]

then you walk 7 miles to the toilet

[@grapeman63]

Lawrence seems obsessed by trashy lagers. In the UK every brewery worth its salt brews a complete range of pale ales, IPAs, bitters, stouts (porters), light ales and even alcohol-free ales as well as lagers. They often have peculiar names like "Fuzzy Ferret", "Hobgoblin", "Doom Bar", "Spitfire" and "Old Hooky" and vary in strength immensely. The US also has small independent breweries that brew a comparatively restricted range of ales like "Alaskan Amber" and "Full Sail", to name but two, but these are often regional and very hard to find. Bitters and ales tend to be both stronger and more flavoursome than lager, and so are more often the beer of choice for an evening of good conversation and banter rather than lager which just allows for massive consumption and for getting rat-arsed. The comparison is akin to drinking a fine Chateauneuf du pape compared to drinking Hock or Blue Nun (probably over-selling that a bit, but you get the idea).

[@NailHeavenAshford]

It’s fursty ferret. My husband likes that one.

[@DavidPaulMorgan]

can't beat a local IPA, Stout, PA, Ale, Bitter or lager - preferably in a 'schooner' / 2/3 pint / 380ml.

[@lewisclout2411]

Pub classes at 11 or 12 but you usually have a lock in when they close doors but let you stay later. But after the pub we will go to the clubs ect. These are open till about 5am.

[@slashdisco]

US TV shows aren't usually known for their accuracy, but to be honest one of the best representations of what an American-style 'pub' (not bar) is truly like is in the US sitcom 'Cheers'. As Laurence says, they're often called 'taverns'. Alcohol-heavy, no food except snacks, lots of wooden furniture.

[@clivestevenson8589]

While on holiday in the beautiful part of England that is the Yorkshire Dales, we were frequent (constant) users of the village pub...having determined no descernable opening or closing time, I asked the landlord when does it close - his reply was "October - to clean the carpets". We actually met him in half way up a snow covered hill the next day, he said that the pub was unlocked with a good fire going - go in, get warm and help your self! We didn't need telling twice!

[@smd1uk]

In the UK every Wetherspoons has at least one TV and every town/city has at least one Wetherspoons. Where I live there’s a nearby monastery that brews the only Trappist ale in the UK. It originally had an abv of 11.5% but has now been reduced to 7.4%. Either way you don’t need many before you pass out.

[@Echodolly6]

In the UK, City Centre and town centre pubs tend to stay open until 2am or 3am. It's mainly your local pubs or countryside pubs that close at 11pm (although many will have a 'lock-in' for regular customers to stay and drink late)

[@thehonestcritic6577]

two pubs on my hometown in Derbyshire UK are open till 4am and one directly opposite open until 6am at weekends

[@britbazza3568]

The legal drinking age in the UK isn't actually 18 as stated in the video. The legal drinking age in the UK varies depending on the setting. If you are in a private family setting then the legal age someone can drink is actually 5 yrs old as long as the parents are around. But when it comes to pubs then again as long as the parents are there and depending on the time of day ie during the day then under 18s can enter the pub with parental supervision but are not allowed to go up to the bar until they are 15 then they can but only to buy crisps etc they're not allowed to buy alcohol. They can buy non alcoholic drinks or soft drinks though At 16 you are allowed to drink alcohol in a pub as long as you are away from the bar and your parents or an over 18 has bought the alcohol. But the minor isn't allowed to actually be drunk so the odd one alcoholic drink under supervision of an over 18 is permitted. This is during the day though. After a certain time usually 5 pm then the age limit comes into the law. Then only 18 yrs old and over are allowed into pubs and buy alcohol. But again the law is that they are not allowed to be drunk. This part of the law is often overlooked though and over 18s are deemed able to determine how much alcohol they can drink which usually ends up in them getting totally pissed. But in certain circumstances then the publican can end up losing his licence if the pub serves people who are too pissed and he keeps serving them! Of all the pubs I've been into in the UK I've never come across Fosters. We in the UK have real beers and real ales with the odd lager which is a teeny bopper drink real men drink real beers or real ales. If any Yanks come to the UK try our the local beers they usually have a different but fantastic taste and are brewed by micro breweries which are independent of big businesses or multinational breweries. They are local people who own small breweries which make beer to traditional recipes. Also if in the west country try the locally brewed Scrumpy. This is basically alcoholic apple juice or cider. The best type of Scrumpy has bits of apple floating in it and is cloudy. But be warned if your not used to it do not have more than a pint of it if you want to remain standing at the bar. The option here being if you do then you'll be falling over. 😂🤣

[@ian_bradley]

Most, if not all pubs WILL NOT serve alcohol to be drank by any person under 18 and if they do, would only do so WITH A MEAL! And usually ONLY if it's a private function like a wedding, for example! However, your comment is generally correct - but a legal minefield! You must not have been in many pubs in the UK as 99.9% of pubs in UK will have Fosters or Carling lager available - it appears that you may only go to bespoke micro pubs though! Real men also drink lager not just beer/ales, that's been stereotypical! Lol!

[@britbazza3568]

@@ian_bradley I've been to more pubs then you've had hot dinners mate and never seen fosters for sale in them.lager is a teeny boppers drink too. This is because they haven't learnt to appreciate real ale As for your comment on the youngsters under 18 going into pubs I've been with my families children in pubs all over the UK and never had a problem with them having alcoholic drinks as long as they haven't been the ones to buy them and they don't get drunk so yes o know I'm correct on that one I've also had family members who own pubs too

[@jamesfarrow1194]

Oh oh !!!!Looks like we've got a know it all!! I understand what your saying @ian Bradley .

[@bookie5667]

@@britbazza3568 "real men"'s drinks? What a w*nker!

[@ian_bradley]

@@britbazza3568 is that why it's illegal to to purchase alcohol for anyone under the age of 18 for their consumption???? A licencee could lose their licence if they knowingly do so and therefore often refuse to sell alcohol to anyone with someone who appears to be under 25 without ID! I think you should be visited by Social Services if you're regularly giving your children alcohol and all these licencees a visit from the local licencing authorities and take their licences away from them!!! It's not about them getting drunk or not btw!

[@malsimons]

Love it! Definitely worth doing a pub crawl around London when you visit! Try different beers and IPA!

[@olwynnsay237]

Pubs in Scotland generally open until 12 and have done as far back as I can remember. Some are open until 1 am now.

[@amieerosee4594]

Pubs near me SE London, some stay open until 1-2.. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a pub that shuts at 11 xx

[@wulfrunian]

I remember when I turned 18 last orders had to be called at 10:30 and you had ten minutes drinking up time. We’d then have around twenty minutes to get to the bus stop for the last bus home at 11. They still had the inspector blow his whistle to ensure the last buses didn’t leave early. The opening hours were quite restricted then with them opening around noon and closing at 2:00 or 2:30 before reopening at around 6:00 for the evening. I can’t remember the exact times now. As they’ve changed quite a few times since. Drinking age has always been 18 but with a few exceptions. I seem to remember at one time that the 18 limit applied to the bar but not an adjoining family room but those rules have changed over the years.

[@IFLDook]

Local pubs in the UK stay open till midnight or half past midnight. But bars tend to be open till 3 or 5am

[@Kellie_Curtis-Holmes]

I'm new to your channel and I love it 🥰 I love that you react to a wide variety of videos and topics. If you're ever in England, I'll get the pints in 😆

[@dannystruggles5504]

I've not seen a pub in the UK that shuts at 11pm they stay open longer than that

[@petersymonds4975]

Many Pubs and clubs (private drinking establishment - with members) will have a skittle alley. Skittles is a version of 10 pin bowling but without the machinery. You bowl a wooden ball down a wooden alley about 33 feet long. Usually a team game, visiting team is from another club or pub. The club I go to has a dart board, skittle alley, pool table and a separate room with two full size snooker/billiard tables. They also have table games such as dominoes and cards, usual card games are solo or cribbage. Games are not allowed any wagering other than small pocket money amounts. The building also has a separate room for darts and a lounge area for quieter drinks. To the side of the lounge is a concert hall with a stage and sunken dance floor. In the grounds is a full sized well maintained bowling green.

[@cf3619]

Years ago people in England played darts. Dominos. Cards. Pool & all sorts whilst drinking their pints or half pints. It’s changed now. It’s now pool & gambling machines mainly. All pubs can ask the local authorities for different closing times. It depends on if there as been any troubles like fighting or drugs.

[@ericg5791]

Theres individual pubs here in the UK. Pub chains such as Weatherspoons. A lot of pubs aim for showing footie,or rugby,and especially on match days,and ESPECIALLY those near stadiums or town centres can been packed solid and rowdy on match days. There are quaint Gastro Pubs than serve tasty full course meals. The riverside and village pubs are quite rustic,cosy and connected with history, Ian Mckellan owns The Bunch of Grapes,Narrow Street,Limehouse,London,If u want a small,quiet,sports less pub that is?

[@Codex7777]

UK closing times vary enormously. When virtually all pubs closed at 11pm, the culture was, assuming you wanted to stay out, to go on to a late night bar, restaurant or club. Though even back then, there were plenty of pubs with late licences. They just had to provide space to dance, or proper food, in order to apply for such a licence. There were also pubs in, or near to, wholesale fresh produce markets, or docks, that had 24 hour licences. His view could be a little out of date too, as there are plenty of pubs with late licences nowadays. Especially in city centres. It's also possible to get up, first thing in the morning and go straight to a pub! Before WW1 there was no official closing time. Pubs could open whenever they wanted. War regulations changed this and 11am until 11pm became the standard opening times for most pubs, as the wartime regulations were not repealed until round about the Millennium.

[@andysutcliffe3915]

Closing time is generally last orders and stop selling beer time, there’s nothing that says you can’t buy 3 pints at 10:55. Although unless you have a very friendly landlord, you’re usually only given 30 minutes to drink up and leave.

[@simonbeech5421]

Pubs generally have last orders at 11pm/midnight Monday - Thursday and midnight/1am/2am Friday & Saturday. Then its on to a nightclub. Clubs can stay open late. 4am/5am/6am/7am or later. Especially in London. So, although our pubs may close earlier, it doesn't mean its time to head home, its simply time to move on to The Club.

[@peterfoakes7569]

11.00pm is late enough for me! However when I go on holiday to Corfu, bars there stay open as long as your drinking! Often on the first few days holiday, people start buying drinks at nearly 11, thinking like at home they will close, but I let them know, its ok til whenever! lol

[@ruadhagainagaidheal9398]

Very surprise you don’t have more subscribers. You have a thoughtful intelligence that belies your tender years. English isn’t my first language, so I’m sorry about the bad English - I’ve had to translate it in my head from the Gàidglig , or Scottish Gaelic.

[@lachlanmain6004]

I once visted a pub in the lake district, to get to the gents toilets you had to walk through the flight path of the dartboard, as the evening wore on this became a more and more "interesting" experience. Also JP, when you get to the UK check out if there are any beer festivals on, they can be a great experience.

[@JJBushfan]

I'm British and I started going into pubs at 15. By the age of 16 I was a seasoned veteran and never got challenged. But then, there was no ID in those days. Discretion was left to the landlord. If he or she believed you were under 18, you simply didn't get served. If you looked 18, you did. There was no problem. I can't help feeling that the obsession with ID which requires everyone to carry it well into their twenties is nanny-statish amounting almost to control mania.

[@NailHeavenAshford]

Yes if you looked under age you sent your friend to the bar to get drinks. When I started going to night clubs/discos (early to mid 80’s) aged 16 they let all of the girls in for free before 10pm as they knew that if they had plenty of girls in the boys would come down and spend money on them.

[@ruadhagainagaidheal9398]

I was refused service in a pub when I was both stone cold sober and 26 years old. The barmaid simply would not believe I was over 18, no ID in those far off days. Now that I’m a little older (74) I appreciate the benefits of looking younger , although I am still frequently challenged by rail staff when I show my Senior Railcard as they don’t seem convinced that I’m over 60.

[@wadefite]

We say bar to distinquish between the bar and the lounge which are part of an establishment.

[@mikecaine3643]

It's a long time since pubs closed at 11.00 pm here in Failsworth - most are open until 2.00 am .I'm surprised he only mentioned lagers - all pubs serve draught British beers and most serve food .Witherspoons for some reason seem to get a bad name - I can't see why I've never found one I didn't like !

[@lemming9984]

I think Wetherspoons bad name comes from the C**t that owns it! Treating the staff like slaves, zero hour contracts, minimum wage etc. The food there is cheap and cheerful, the beer OK.

[@unknownregions5014]

@@lemming9984 That isnt true, thats a misconseption, no one is on zero hour contracts, or min wage and no-one is treated like slaves, everyone is treated very well, and get an abundance of perks working there. As much as Tim Martin owns the company he doesnt run the company, there is a board for that.

[@dreddykrugernew]

@@lemming9984 he is one of the best bosses in the business, workers get paid above NMW, they get bonuses if its been real busy each month, they get shares in Wetherspoons at the end of each year, i know people in Wetherspoons near me and they have worked in there for over a decade and to retain staff working in a busy pub like they do like that is a credit to how he treats his workers...

[@gillianrimmer7733]

It all depends on where the pub is located. I worked at the Licensing Office for a year during a break from teaching in 2010. An ordinary licence to sell alcohol to be consumed on the premises still states that the place is licensed to sell alcohol between 11am and 11pm. An additional licence has to be applied for if it wants to stay open for longer than that. It's not automatic that a pub/club will get an extention to it's licence, it depends on the police and the magistrate who issues it. In the case of City Centre places, there's usually no objections, and they are granted - but, the police - or members of the public can register concerns with the magistrate about the noise levels /disruption etc... that late hours may cause to neighbours where a pub is located in a residential area - these applications are usually turned down, except for special one-off events like New Year's Eve. All applications for premises licences to sell alcohol are vetted by the police, and public notices have to be displayed on the premises about a month in advance for any change to the hours of business to allow for objections to be prepared before the magistrate grants the licence

[@dreddykrugernew]

@@gillianrimmer7733 Yawn, you can drink on the premises if you bought in legal time, like im buying 20 pints at 11pm dingaling, im on my own and the owner is gonna let me take my time i can sit there until opening the next morning supping my 20 pints....

[@101steel4]

The drinking culture is different in the US. My cousin lives in Florida and whenever he meets up with fellow Brits for an allday session, they think they're all alcoholics 😂😂

[@helenwood8482]

Many Brits are. Basically, if you are drinking every day or regularly getting drunk, you have a problem.

[@101steel4]

@@helenwood8482 agreed. But where did I say it was everyday?

[@allenwilliams1306]

@@helenwood8482 I drink every day, and have done so for fifty years. The health nazis would only be happy if people drank water alone. Soft drinks? Too much sugar. Tea, coffee? Too much sugar and/or caffeine. Milk? Too much fat. Water is a disgusting, vile drink, and needs to be turned into beer or cider to be palatable.

[@geraintmorgan3628]

@@allenwilliams1306 completely agree, why on earth people drink water over beer or cider i will never understand. I drink most days and everyone i know basically does the same but then again in the welsh valleys its compulsory.

[@simonpowell2559]

@@helenwood8482 Funny, certainly when I was younger virtually everyone drank every day. Lunch time, a couple on the way home, tea, washed changed out for the evening. Pubs were always packed, business and courting was often in the pub. Everyone new each others name including the publicans, often a couple. Ah, those were the days.

[@davidjones992]

I’ve been in Australia since 1983 but I seem to remember pubs opening hours were roughly 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm. They were never open all day. Plus Sunday was 10 or 10.30 pm closing. I believe it goes back to the war years (unsure if first or second WW) when they didn’t want workers drinking at lunchtime then returning to work, especially munitions workers I assume.

[@DanielsPolitics1]

I think it was not long after that that the afternoon gap (3-6) was abolished. Apparently the government minister responsible forgot to move the amendment putting it in the bill.

[@widget1005]

@@DanielsPolitics1 It was the Monster Raving Looney Party that first put forward 24 hour licencing laws! Everyone said it would never happen...............!Despite their name there are quite a few things that are now mainstream that they first suggested - lowering the voting age to 18, legalisation of commercial radio, passports for pets amongst others.

[@MrNikolidas]

What tends to happen is that you go to the pub first to socialise, then just as the pubs are closing the nightclubs are opening so you go there until 3am when they close. If dancing while you're wasted isn't your thing, or if you're still up for more, casinos are usually open until around 6 or 7am and you don't need to gamble to drink there. Come over to Edinburgh, we'll show you what's up xD

[@ashleyran4183]

If you came over, London, i take out to the pub, it depends on the pub someplace do stay open till 2 am and want to keep drink you got to a nightclub you can get really drunk? lol

[@lesliepoole8705]

The beers that were classed as British typical beers were actually lagers and apart from Stella not particularly good ( in my opinion) . No mention of real ale, bitter porter ,stout ,cider etc Just saying

[@Aloyus_Knight]

Theres nothing wrong with stella, I don't know why people think its trashy but I think some some largers do taste the same though.

[@johnbrereton5229]

@@Aloyus_Knight My French girlfriend used to drink Krononberg 1664 when I first met her In London. But she was surprised because every pub we went to, I would buy a different beer. I told her it was because different pubs sell different Ales and that's why I always ordered a different one. What's an Ales she asked ? Here try it I said, which she did, and her eyes lite up, wow she said , that's really nice. 23 years later, we are still together, and she hasn't drunk a Larger since. 🍻👍😎

[@papercup2517]

Yes, I was puzzled they all seemed to be non-British, mass-produced bottled beer. My memory of British pubs from the 60s up until the early 80s was of local or other British bitter, light and pale ale, or stout etc, all on tap. More recently, when I've been back home to visit, they seem dominated by craft/artisan beers from smaller producers, with the specific brews on offer changing regularly. There seems to be a lot more variety and interest in flavour in a 'foodie'/gourmet sort of way, and also meals seem to be offered now in most pubs, which wasn't the case back in the day. One thing I really dislike is the trend to fashionable /millennial' makeovers - I long for the comfort of a shabby, dimly lit pub with dark wood and comfy seating - yes, and a dart board!

[@mattsmithlon]

I love it that you didn't get the fly tipping joke LOL

[@10thdoctor15]

11pm is not early, especially during the week, and we would definitely go for a drink at 11am.

[@Walesbornandbred]

Elephant and castle is a district in London.

[@britbazza3568]

South of the river

[@raythomas4812]

I lived there for 8 years - Loved it

[@101steel4]

A right dump now. Like most of London tbh

[@Leoviliti1]

The thing is ..we in The UK cater for all types of clientel... Our pubs can be oldy woldy cottage types With homely open lit fires with no tvs But a games room for pool darts etc, ..that generally open and close at by gone traditional hours..we have the sporting pubs...that often hold quiz nights karaoke etc..and many tvs! And we have bar/restaurant style pubs that have The dining sections seated away from the public drinking areas.. We have some with dance floors others with conference/ function rooms to hire for meetings and wedding venues.. A pub here is whatever takes your fancy... Me however..I'm all for the oldy woldy charm! So generally that's where I'll be propping up the bar...or by the open fire toasting marshmallows..ok maybe not! X Lol

[@tgsgardenmaintenance4627]

Was a regular in my local pub by the age of 14, at 11pm they just stopped people coming in, mainly. With the jukebox going & everyone playing pool, the night just carried on. The beer selection was not that great until they got Kronie 64! Happy days!!

[@AgentTokyo78]

We in the UK go to a pub for the craic and enjoying friends company, then get drunk 🥴

[@ianmelonie6440]

Most pub in UK have food and a door man now also a have a large TV to watch the latest Football matches I think he need to come back to UK

[@BM-yr1lc]

Come to Ireland! Late night bars stay open til about 3am. Then of course there's the infamous "lock ins" where when the pub officially closes its doors it'll still serve drink til the wee hours of the morning. Only some pubs tho not all

[@malcomflibbleghast8140]

most uk day drinkers, dont get drunk, they know their limits

[@miaschu8175]

Many pubs where I live are open until 2am, and a couple close at 5am at the weekend. My town is about 30 miles north of London (where everything seems to open late, including the shops). A few quiet ones close at 11pm in the week, but open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. In a quiet Norfolk town, where my friend lives, the pubs close early. I was shocked that a pub near where we stayed in Norwich closed at 10pm! But there was another livelier pub that opened until late, so it wasn't completely dead. So, it depends on how popular the local nightlife is, or whether there's a university nearby. University towns always have busy pubs! Cheers!

[@Neil_TheShiningMile]

One thing I noticed when I last went to America was that many of their bars - physical bar itself - were U-shaped. In the UK, you see this sometimes but generally it’s one long straight-line shaped. Joel, when you visit the UK, come to Reading (only 25 mins on train from London) and I will definitely get you some pints. Reading has tons of pubs to visit. You can also try out cider, something that’s common in the UK but I found hard to find in many US bars. Many didn’t know what I was talking about when I asked if they serve cider.

[@dianeferguson3555]

First time I went from U.K. to USA was when I was 19. Strolled down to the hotel bar and couldn’t get a drink. Back home my local served me from 15 (I looked older)

[@NailHeavenAshford]

Where I live in the U.K. it’s primarily housing with the odd small shop (newsagents, hairdresser, convenience store) dotted here or there. We also have a few pubs. The reason the pubs here haven’t been able to get a later than 11pm closing license is that people don’t want drunks people waking them up in the early hours so the local council refuses late licenses if people want to drink late they can find pubs and clubs in retail areas or the town centre that operate late licenses that won’t disturb residents. It makes sense to me. Our town is fairly walkable so it’s generally easy to stagger home, or the taxis are plentiful.

[@10thdoctor15]

The minimum age for drinking in a restaurant or beer garden is 5, it's only 18 in a bar or to purchase alcohol.

[@08emily89]

In the U.K. we have ‘bars’ as well as ‘pubs’. Pubs you can go for meals and find a wider selection of beers and cider on tap instead of bottles (good pubs will have locally brewed stuff). Many pubs are family friendly and serve ‘pub grub’. We have bars in the U.K. but you need to be over 18. There tends to be louder music but places to sit and some food options. E.g. tapas style. There’s usually more options for cocktails to drink and less beers on tap, more in bottles. Sometimes bars can turn into a club after a certain time in the evening. So yeah pubs and bars both exist in the U.K. but are different things!

[@debnbhuy]

The pubs in my village are open until midnight. Laurence hasn't been home in a long time. !!

[@chrisofnottingham]

closing at 11pm is basically the pubs choice based on demand and not very likely on a Friday or Saturday.

[@stephenlee5929]

In England most pubs are open 'til 11pm, in most towns and cities you will find at least a ew with later licences, Friday and Saturday nights tend o be 12 or 1am, there are often door security on later pubs. Most pubs don't open until 11am, unless they are near a market. On Sunday nights pubs normally close at 10:30pm. Hotel bars are different for residents In Scotland, in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, I found a pub/bar open a all times (not the same pub), In Aberdeen I was told by various staff that each pub could open for 12 hours each day and they choose their 12 hour slot, I found this in a bar near the docks which at 5:30pm was closing, here were also a number which opened at 7pm in order to close at 7am (I did not stay).

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

@Stephen Lee - FYI: Many Wetherspoon's pubs open at 8am (for breakfasts, teas & coffees) and start serving alcohol at 9am (although this alters slightly dependent upon the individual pub...)

[@stephenlee5929]

@@stewedfishproductions7959 Hi, Yep, agreed, but Wetherspoons are unusual, I think.

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

@@stephenlee5929 But they do have 925 pubs and 50 hotels, so not unusual, surely? I'm in North London and when I look back of the last 15 + years, despair at how many of the 'local' pubs have shut down in that period. The ones that are left are not for 'locals', being (sadly), just over priced eateries...

[@stephenlee5929]

@@stewedfishproductions7959 Yep, about 1 in 1,000 pubs are Wetherspoons so their not unusual, but that's like saying Greggs (the largest bakery shop chain are not unusual, I think they are. Sad about the number of pubs closing down and London pubs becoming eateries

[@charliecosta3971]

Lawrence bless him is out of Touch... English pubs also have loads of TV screens everywhere though the weatherspoons chain is a exception and everyone knows at least one place where you can get a drink even at 6am... Lawrence comes from a upper class family and most of his videos are his experiences so he isn't always that clued up on the working class culture and evident in this Video about Elephant and Castle... its not about having loads of castles it's actually a rough neighbourhood in South London called Elephant and Castle. If you ever want to come uk hit me up, you can stay at mine in the wonderful Peckham area of South London.

[@jonathon3787]

I noticed the Elephant and Castle reference too; I was surprised he didn’t know what it meant.

[@miaschu8175]

I watched one of his videos when he went home to his parents. They're not a posh family, but they live in a nice suburban area. I think that local pubs in quiet areas are very different from pubs in busy towns and cities.

[@charliecosta3971]

@@miaschu8175 yeah but he always does state it is based on his experiences so I'll give him that

[@ghostwriter2031]

Pub closing times now depend on where you are located and if you have a late license. The days of 11pm closing are long gone. Most pubs serve food now as they can’t survive just by selling alcohol. Real Ale is also just as popular as lager now too

[@damianleah6744]

Very amusing 👍🏻🤣😎 Budweiser is available everywhere here too though.

[@TheDiplococcus]

One main reason that our pubs close at 11pm is that in the UK we don't have zoning regulations in the same way. Many pubs are literally next door to residential properties, so the closing time is meant to reduce the night time disruption to nearby homes by drunk folks and pub music. If you're out and about in town and you want to extend your night beyond 11pm the most common thing is to go on to a nightclub which stays open until the wee hours of the morning. Nightclubs are not situated next to residential homes (generally speaking).

[@sknox1394]

In normal times (pre-covid) Scotland’s pubs closed at midnight Sun-Thur; and 1am Fri & Sat if they have a late licence. Not sure what laws are in Wales and NI but think it may only be England where pubs close at 11pm.

[@carlchapman4053]

I live in Walsall, England and we have a pub here that has been licenced and open since 1627. Come to England and I will buy you a pint (A full pint not your American short measures)

[@mrjipsta5973]

This dude clearly ain't been in a pub in UK for time 🤣😂😂🤣

[@gleadhill79]

A lot of pubs are family run in the UK so they do close early, but the clubs are open till 4/5am!

[@russellv8]

I'm 66 years old and was born in the east end of London had my first beer in a pub when I was 14 years no problem it also came with a knowing wink from the old boy behind the bar, I started smoking when I was 13 you could buy a packet of five Park drive cigarettes for one shilling and threepence which is about 7new pence in today's money, biggest regret smoking just starting to have trouble with my lungs even though I stoped ten years ago. But I still take 3-4 pints of beer a day.. lovely jubbly 😋

[@truckerjay]

Manchester’s village pubs should be an eye opener for you.

[@supersparks9466]

My 31 year old daughter was carded in Arizona last year, nice to look young

[@solentbum]

Even before the changes in the Law it was possible to drink round the clock in London legally, by visiting late night clubs in the West End, followed by the main wholesale markets such as Billingsgate which were open for the special needs of hard working workers. Likewise there were pubs open at non standard hours near to Steel works and Coal mines, to service thirsty workers at the end of shifts. Even in the small market town where I lived the pubs were open from very early to late at night on Market Day.

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

Few pubs around (what used to be) Smithfield Meat Market, still open early but are too expensive to visit as 'a pub' i.e. the Fox and Anchor serve a Full Monty Breakfast for £13+ and then add in a pint... Paying over £20 for the experience... Even a bacon butty is over £8.00!!!

[@replevideo6096]

I will always buy a pint for any overseas visitor from anywhere because I want to hear their story.

[@DavidPaulMorgan]

Oh, a UK pint is 568ml. draught (keg, cask) beer/ale etc MUST be sold by the 'pint' or sub multiple - half or two-thirds. Wine is 125/175/250ml or by the bottle 750ml. Spirits are (england and wales) 25ml or a double at 50ml. (Scotland and NI have a larger default). Canned beer is in 500ml, 440ml or 330ml and the occasional 12 US.FlOz import can. Bottles are usually 500ml or 330ml - I have seen some 660ml beers in the fridge. The bourbon size you call "a fifth" (heard in US films) is20% of your gallon, so ~757ml. Our standard bottle is 700ml usual size for whisly, gin, vodka etc. However, we tend to get the full litre at the airports.

[@improvesheffield4824]

Hey Joel! Looking forward to taking you to a good old traditional English pub where you can sample a full English breakfast with Black Pudding. I want to see the look on your face when you try it for the first time!🥺 Most pubs still close at 11pm because they’re located in the middle of neighbourhoods so probably wouldn’t get a licence for 24hr opening anyway. Most that open all day are usually in the larger town and city centres.

[@sleepyfox8983]

If we're doing black pudding for breakfast, then might as well do Steak and Kidney pie and chips later on ;)

[@danosverige]

Black pudding is just basically a spicy sausage. People only have a problem if they can't get the "blood" thing out of their head. It's not even blood in a "blood" context, it's a powdered form with additives! Some Countries make it worse by labelling it as "Blood sausage", which is like labelling chicken nuggets as "Fried pink gloopy stuff, with breadcrumbs"!

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

@@sleepyfox8983 Yum, Yum... Don't forget the gravy - Now I'm hungry LOL!

[@ianharris879]

yanks call it blood pudding

[@oldman1734]

Pubs (or Public Houses) are noted for serving beer from giant barrels, often housed underground and pumped by hand pump at the bar. Tins of beer are relatively new. (Depending on what one might consider new). Nowadays it normal for actual food to be served, not just crisps and pork scratchings. Even tea and coffee!!! It’s a very different world.

[@andyrathbone6365]

If Laurence's video wasn't tempting enough, we have 47,200 pubs here in the UK

[@symondo5883]

Weatherspoons has table service through the app 🥰 so good to walk into a pub and order shots etc and not have to get up

[@markpope9205]

I remember at a pub, when drinking after the closing time, the landlord asked us to leave by the back door as the police was at the front door.

[@martinbutler9999]

At my local, the local bobby would be at the bar, and at 11 pm, he would say, i'm off duty now lads, meaning to the barman, lock the door ,

[@tonygriffin_]

Love this guy's very British droll delivery. Since Covid came along, there's no more going to the bar to order drinks, it all has to be brought to the table by bar staff now.

[@ian_bradley]

We're back to going to the bar now, has returned to normal for about 6~7months! Except for food - still table service for that!...

[@gordieparenteau6555]

In Canada, the primary beer that virtually every pub in every big city and small town carries is Molson Canadian.

[@ricewychrij]

Traditionally darts or bar billiards would be pub activities. These days its more likely to be pool (UK have smaller pockets, so we're usually better at it) or slot machines and quiz machines, quiz nights and karaoke nights Would love to take you to a pub if you come up to Manchester. Safe travels

[@kevanwillis4571]

In Belgium, Stella Artois is considered one of the worst of their hundreds of beers.

[@alexblower]

Not one pub in my town shut at 11. My local shuts at 2am.

[@welshbo1]

I live in a UK city and bars here shut around 2am generally. Also I'll take you to the pub if you're buying.

[@paulwatts5019]

I wouldn't, he's a prick!!

[@Patricu]

Go to an Irish pub in Ireland knocks the socks off either of them!

[@JamesonEst1780]

The term “carded” is definitely an Americanism! We might say we were “ID’d” or “asked for ID” but never “carded”. Though, I think in the context of what he was talking about, it doesn’t take a genius to establish he’s talking about an ID card.