We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Public House?

By G. Wiesen
Updated: Jan 27, 2024
Views: 10,544
References
Share

A public house is a type of establishment that is open to the public in which customers may come to relax and usually drink alcoholic beverages such as beer, sometimes while eating as well. These establishments are usually associated with or started by a person or company that brews beer, often resulting in local beer from the owner being sold along with other drinks at the location. A public house is a fairly common establishment in England, Ireland, and Scotland, as well as some other countries such as Australia, though theme restaurants and bars are more common in other areas like the US.

Also referred to simply as a “pub,” a public house is effectively an historic institution in many areas of the UK and was once one of the major social hubs of many cities, towns, and villages. The birth of public houses stemmed from the brewing and selling of beer, for which many pubs remain well known. Beer has been made and consumed in areas of the world like the UK for thousands of years, though it was with the introduction of the Roman concept of the “tavern” that the public house truly came into being.

As the Romans left the UK, the Anglo-Saxons and remaining Britons utilized the roads and structures of the Roman influence to build up their own traditions and society. The public house arose from the need for food and drink by travelers who were passing through various areas in the UK. As people began to brew and make beer in their own homes, they would often sell their beer to travelers, sometimes providing places to stop and eat as well. The public house grew out of this tradition, and other establishments such as inns arose from the need for lodging in addition to food and drink.

Public houses can still be found in numerous towns and cities throughout the UK, though they are not as prevalent as they once were. Many of these establishments take their names from signs posted at the front of the building. These signs were historically required of a public house to indicate to royal inspectors that a certain location brewed and served beer, so that it could be inspected and graded by those officers of the court. Since literacy was fairly low centuries ago, the sign posted by a public house was usually graphic in nature, often depicting barley or something else associated with beer, before using images of knights and animals, from which these pubs then took their names.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wise-geek.com/what-is-a-public-house.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.