The Local: A History of the English Pub

by Paul Jennings

Paul Jennings traces the history of the British pub, and looks at how it evolved from the eighteenth century's coaching inns and humble alehouses, back-street beer houses and 'fine, flaring' gin palaces to the drinking establishments of the twenty-first century. Covering all aspects of pub life, this fascinating history looks at pubs in cities and rural areas, seaports and industrial towns. It identifies trends and discusses architectural and internal design, the brewing and distilling industries and the cultural significance of drink in society. Looking at everything from music and games to opening times and how they have affected anti-social behaviour, The Local is a must-read for every self-respecting pub-goer, from landlady to lager-lout.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published June 1, 2007

About the author

Dr Paul Jennings is a History Professor at the University of Bradford.

Reviews

[James Slaven]

An excellent book on the history of the English pub. While academic in nature, being well referenced and thorough, it’s not all numbers and boring facts. There are many colorful anecdotes to liven up the reading.

[Tom]

Meticulously sourced and footnoted, this provides a succinct overview of the origins of the pub, how its function, ownership and clientele changed over time, as well as why it became such a central part of English culture.