[The New Statesman] It’s springtime in Brighton, which means my day at the coworking space finishes when I hear colleagues remind me it’s sunny outside and ask if I’m joining them down the pub. I’m not, because I’m tired from researching this article about pubs. But I’m sure my walk home will include dodging pavement spillover as Brightonians crowd pubs' outdoor terraces.The Rose & Crown, Oundle, UK.
This overflow of the somewhat inebriated and sunburned on to busy streets is not something I was familiar with before moving to England. As an American import, I was surprised by how regularly I heard the words "let’s go down the pub" when I first moved here, and instinctively thought the invitations were some sort of weird cultural hazing ceremony from my new band of alcoholic friends. That is until I realised that British pubs are not the same thing as American bars.
(Disclaimer: whenever discussing the difference between two countries, there is a risk of relying on stereotypes to prove a point. I am sure that someone reading this has had an excellent experience in an authentic American bar outside of a major metropolitan area, just as I’m sure another reader actually had a great meal at Hooters. I’m told Hooters has great wings. All the same, for the sake of this article I will be making grand, sweeping generalisations that by no means deliberately attempt to take aim at your local friendly American bartender. Your bartender and bar are great.)
There are some semantic distinctions that need to be made between the words "bar" and "pub".