What makes a really good pub or bar?

Question

Why do we spend so much in pubs and bars, and why do we pick the ones we do? My local has naff beer, and yet we still go back! Do you think its just what you're used to?

Answer 1

-The pub should be like your second home, frendly, familiar and comfortable. Our Brits are happy as long as there is a nice cold bear and sexy looking barmaids thats what my brother in law always says to me. The pub needs to be, in my opinion, welcoming with frendly staff, good choice of drinks, exelent music, fun croud and generous frut machines.

Answer 2

I asked a similar question to this a few weeks ago. I discovered it's really down to personal preference. Some people like cheap drinks, others prefer to pay more knowing that they will recieve that little bit extra. Some like loud music, others quiet. However, I think that the most important thing is that the bar remains fluid. By that I mean always offering something to the consumer that makes them want to return. I am a recent bar manager and I have found that the bar should have the following basics - a strong identity, eg, standardized music policy, good seating, temperature and a strong focus on customer service and knowledgable staff. As mentioned in a previous answer, we are creatures of habit, and you will find that if a bar has policies that are all over the place, the customers will feel alienated and simply stop returning.

Answer 3

We spend so much because we have one drink, and we want another, and another, and another.....

We pick the ones we do largely due to many factors, the atmosphere, location, the company we are with, the weather etc.
I think familiarity is important to some people, but not others - some like their pub to be a home from home - but some enjoy to be somewhere which is unfamiliar and nothing like home...

Drink is not so much of a deciding factor as the range and quality is quite similar between pubs and bars. However food variety & quality varies a lot, so if you were going to eat - this would be a prominent factor.

Answer 4

The people, friends and music make up the atmosphere of a good night in the pub, Good beer helps a lot though!

Answer 5

Forget price, Doesn't matter when it comes to food and alcohol.
The service needs to be friendly and personable, the kind of people you would be seen with. The clientele is also key, I go for an upscale establishment that has good reviews and a reputation to boot. The speed in which your drinks are made and the quality of liquors on hand are very important. What kind of menu do they have, fresh foods or something frozen that they toss in a fryer. Key key key

Answer 6

People are creatures of habit.Once we get used to something and comfortable with it we tend to settle. I like the variety, However when looking for a good pub I prefer the kind that are civil(without brawls). After work its nice to sit and relax with a nice cold beer. And when I feel like it I occasionally like to have dinner at certain pubs and enjoy a peacefull experience with good food and beer

Answer 7

Atmosphere - friendly bartenders and servers (it helps if some of them are really attractive girls), and regular customers you get along with. That's what I like about my favorite bar - the Lenox Lounge on 125th St & Lenox Av in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood.

Answer 8

A friendly landlord/lady, good beer, pool table and darts, lots of friendly people and a decent staggering distance from home.
Also when I was in my early 20's there was also a female police woman who took an interest in me(or was it me taking an interest in her uniform) and would pick me up at closing time in her police car and drop me home, god those were the days!

Answer 9

Good food, good selection of brewskis, knowledgeable bartenders, and a cozy atmosphere.

If the pub brews its own suds (making it a Brewpub), that is a HUGE plus!

Answer 10

A good pub is !!!! they sell real ale, and have good home cooked food with a good menu. And the landlord/landlady care`s