4 ms·

Apart from the Sunday roast you mentioned, which incidently is available in the majority of pubs I've been to (I had a very nice one yesterday) what other parts

by shazzy 10y ago

Apart from the Sunday roast you mentioned, which incidently is available in the majority of pubs I've been to (I had a very nice one yesterday) what other parts of the "english cultural" experience are you missing?

alimbada 10y ago
That's pretty much it. English culture is extremely bland (unless you want to count the embarrassments that are binge-drinking and hooliganism which often go hand in hand...) hence why our national dish is curry. :)
- raverbashing 10y ago
  I suppose it's a "fish can't see water" type of thing (or trolling/ignorance maybe?)
mikekchar 10y ago
Keep in mind that my experiences are based on my preferences. YMMV. But for example, 20 years ago the licensing laws were set up so that pubs were open from 11-2 and from 4-11. Usually in London, they had an exemption to allow them to be open between 2 and 4. There were some bars that were open past 11, but you needed a special license. Now bars and pubs that are open past 11 is the norm in London. It also used to be that you would have chip shops and sandwich shops and cafes that would serve an english breakfast. Now you have chain espresso shops and ramen shops and sushi shops, etc (hey, I live in Japan and love Japanese culture, so I will stick to complaining about that so as not to appear racist ;-) ). When I'm back in London these days I have to go out of my way to find the kind of food that was around every corner 20 years ago. As for pubs, chains like Weatherspoons (love them or hate them) have done a great job of maintaining and even improving certain things like the availability of real ale. They have worked hard to lobby for reduced prices for beer so that it is still (barely) possible to drink a decent pint and not go broke. But the good independent pub in London is a rare sight now, IMHO. 20 years ago the words "free house" actually meant something. Now you'll see "free house" on the side of Champions League football entertainment centre that serves nothing but InBev products. These days the city never sleeps. It never has a day off. You can obtain any kind of food or experience you like, practically 24/7. You can easily find high quality European restaurants. You can drink fine wine in the shop on the corner. You can find italian fashions (and pay your entire salary on a single outfit). These are all great. But it's hard to find a quiet neighbourhood pub. Piano singalong? Ha ha ha ha! Wait less than 30 minutes for a good english breakfast? Drink a finely crafted English pint with Fuggles and Goldings hops? Find a non-chain pub that serves bangers and mash? Eat a pickle and cheese sandwich (even on a train)? Be able to not be disturbed at all hours by rowdy drunks when you live near a pub? All of these things are getting harder/impossible to do because they have been supplanted by non-English culture. Which is fine in one way, but like I said, I miss London of 20 years ago.

by shazzy 10y ago

alimbada 10y ago

That's pretty much it. English culture is extremely bland (unless you want to count the embarrassments that are binge-drinking and hooliganism which often go hand in hand...) hence why our national dish is curry. :)

raverbashing 10y ago
I suppose it's a "fish can't see water" type of thing (or trolling/ignorance maybe?)

mikekchar 10y ago

Keep in mind that my experiences are based on my preferences. YMMV. But for example, 20 years ago the licensing laws were set up so that pubs were open from 11-2 and from 4-11. Usually in London, they had an exemption to allow them to be open between 2 and 4. There were some bars that were open past 11, but you needed a special license. Now bars and pubs that are open past 11 is the norm in London. It also used to be that you would have chip shops and sandwich shops and cafes that would serve an english breakfast. Now you have chain espresso shops and ramen shops and sushi shops, etc (hey, I live in Japan and love Japanese culture, so I will stick to complaining about that so as not to appear racist ;-) ). When I'm back in London these days I have to go out of my way to find the kind of food that was around every corner 20 years ago. As for pubs, chains like Weatherspoons (love them or hate them) have done a great job of maintaining and even improving certain things like the availability of real ale. They have worked hard to lobby for reduced prices for beer so that it is still (barely) possible to drink a decent pint and not go broke. But the good independent pub in London is a rare sight now, IMHO. 20 years ago the words "free house" actually meant something. Now you'll see "free house" on the side of Champions League football entertainment centre that serves nothing but InBev products. These days the city never sleeps. It never has a day off. You can obtain any kind of food or experience you like, practically 24/7. You can easily find high quality European restaurants. You can drink fine wine in the shop on the corner. You can find italian fashions (and pay your entire salary on a single outfit). These are all great. But it's hard to find a quiet neighbourhood pub. Piano singalong? Ha ha ha ha! Wait less than 30 minutes for a good english breakfast? Drink a finely crafted English pint with Fuggles and Goldings hops? Find a non-chain pub that serves bangers and mash? Eat a pickle and cheese sandwich (even on a train)? Be able to not be disturbed at all hours by rowdy drunks when you live near a pub? All of these things are getting harder/impossible to do because they have been supplanted by non-English culture. Which is fine in one way, but like I said, I miss London of 20 years ago.