Choosing what makes a good pub

[The Large One]

What are the top five criteria you conisder to choosing what makes a pub good, bad or indifferent.

Just curious as with the 'Best Pub / Worst Pub In Sussex' threads, there are lots of things I take into account when thinking of what makes a pub a pub.

Plenty of stuff to consider

Range of drinks
Quality of drinks
Price of drinks
Decor
Atmosphere
Other clientele
Friendliness of bar staff
Cup size of bar staff
Quality of food
Price of food
Music
That certain 'something'...
Something else completely



So what are the five top considerations for you when choosing what makes a pub a good pub?

 

[luke17]

Friendlyness of locals and people that get in the pub
Beer range
Price of beer
Price of food
Dog friendly

Thats all for me

 

[BensGrandad]

1. Availability of real ale
2. Efficiency of staff and serving
3 Cleanliness and hygiene practice
4. Comfort and not looking over your shoulder at what is happening in the bar
5. Clientele in the pub. I am not a snob but I dont want to drink in a pub that is full of the down and out and drop out of society which unfrotunately is happening in the likes of Wetherspoon due to their pricing structure.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

A cracking bar maid.

 

[Gully]

Yes BG, but that is a sort of pub ethnic cleansing isn't it, all the dross go to Wetherspoons...leaving decent pubs for decent people!

 

[defrocked priest]

1) Selection of beers and spirits.
2) Service, friendly barmaid or disinterested landlord.
3) Cleanliness, if the loos are filthy so is the kitchen.
4) Atmosphere chav central or quiet enough for a chat.
5) Leisure things,ie, darts,billiards,fruitys,trivia nights, etc.

 

[BensGrandad]

Friendlyness of locals and people that get in the pub
Beer range
Price of beer
Price of food
Dog friendly

Thats all for me

That is one thing that stops me going into a pub especially if it sells food or the dog is a large dog that everybody has to walk around laid across the bar and then you get told ' oh he is ok he is friendly' but you dont know that. In fact I think that dogs other than guide dogs should be banned.

 

[8ace]

Wall-to-wall clunge.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Oh, you wanted 5 things. Ok;

1) Barmaid.
2) Pool / table football / quiz machine
3) big screens with football/tennis/snooker/other on.
4) the ambience. I was in a pub the other day with dark lighting and rock music blaring over the place, it wasn't pleasant. It didn't create the right mood, we weren't there for long.
5) space... if it feels too cramped then you won't spend much time there

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

To start with I'd say no 'Sky Sports here' banner outside and no 'The Seafield' sign.

 

[Trigger]

In no particular order...

Barmaids Breasts
Barmaids Bum
Barmaids Eyes
Barmaids Personality
Barmaids Availability

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

1. Good service
2. Good atmosphere
3. Good beer
4. Good seating
5. SKY Sports

 

[Ninja Elephant]

In no particular order...

Barmaids Breasts
Barmaids Bum
Barmaids Eyes
Barmaids Personality
Barmaids Availability

Bum
Personality
Eyes
Availability
Breasts.

Imo...

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

- reasonable prices but too reasonable that it attracts PLEBS

- good beer, preferably stuff that is hard to find

- decent music that is at a decent volume

- frequented/work in by decent clunge

- good seats to person ratio


good and reasonably priced food is a bonus

 

[Marty McFly]

Atmosphere
Other clientele - Friendly. No/very few chavs, please.
Music - Good music at a volume where you can still talk
Speed of the bar staff - I don't want to wait a year to get served
Lemon Cider - That stuff is the shiz!

 

[Bluejuice]

General ambience and clientele would have to feature quite highly. I'm not bothered by what section of society you might fit into, so long as you're friendly and welcoming.

Range and quality of beers is important. Predominantly ales on tap for me but I also like to see a good selection of bottled beers including imported lagers or decent Belgian beers (the Greys is a good example of a pub with a superb range of Belgian beers).

The layout and furniture makes a difference. I want cosy little snug areas and comfy old furniture rather than sterile metal railings and faux Tudor panelling.

Friendliness of staff is obviously very important too and I am particularly looking for people with a knowledge of the beers, enough to make a recommendation and preferably a willingness to let punters sample the various choices before making a decision.

Finally I like to feel settled in somewhere laid back and relaxed. Staff running around like headless chickens once time at the bar has been called, chasing everyone out as quick as possible so as to be able to shut up and go home puts me off. Of course they have every right to encourage people to drink up and make their way out but when you call time you need to allow at least twenty minutes drinking up time. Don't start putting pressure on the punters the moment you smell the opportunity to close up and go home.


Just my two penneth anyway

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

No too much real ale, it just attracts weirdos.

 

[Marty McFly]

The layout and furniture makes a difference. I want cosy little snug areas and comfy old furniture rather than sterile metal railings and faux Tudor panelling.

Finally I like to feel settled in somewhere laid back and relaxed.

Totally agree with this.

 

[Gully]

Somewhere that has character and a feel that people have been drinking there for generations, the Black Horse in Amberley definitely has that...the past generations include my fore-fathers, many of whom will have done their drinking in excess of 100 years ago.