8 Ways to Enjoy a Round of English Pub Style
Pubs make up the heart and soul of English life. Ask any British man or woman, and they will nearly always have their favorite "local." Pubs got their start here when the Romans built a network of roads and wanted to provide refreshment stops for travelers. Today almost every quaint countryside village in the U.K. has at least one pub where locals eat, chat and enjoy traditional ales, beers, wines and spirits. Hearty food choices, such as bangers and mash, a plowman's lunch or steak and kidney pie, have become prevalent. (Thankfully, these foods are of much better quality now than in the old days.)
Traditional pub style feels cozy and warm, with lots of dark wood, low ceilings and roaring log fires. If you have the space, why not create a warm place to hole up in your home this winter and drink a few cheeky beers with friends? Here's how to get the look.
by Bob Michels Construction, Inc. »
Create a place to play. Pubs have always had some type of game available, although these have varied over the years, from draughts (board games) in Roman times, to rooster fighting somewhere along the way, to the pinball machines of the 1980s. Since the '70s, electronic games have overtaken more traditional games, although pool tables and dart boards are still widely popular.
Set up your own favorite games to entertain your friends and family in your home pub. If you have the space, a pool table can be a great investment. If not, a simple dartboard makes for great fun, too.
by Crisp Architects »
Name your establishment. Pubs often have quirky names. My locals growing up back in Yorkshire were The Scott's Arms, The Star and Garter, and The Windmill. There are more more oddly named pubs too, such as The Goat and Tricycle, The Wobbly Bobby and The Swan with Two Necks.
Have fun with this! Make up your own pub name and have a sign created.
by Hendel Homes »
Create a cozy atmosphere. Layer dark textures, like stone and wood. Avoid bright overhead light and integrate something softer, like iron wall sconces. If you have a fireplace, even better. A roaring log fire crackling in the background adds gentle light and warmth.
Consider installing wainscoting or some type of wood paneling on your walls to create visual warmth and texture.
by Debbiedoo's »
Use custom or antique woodwork. Many pubs have beautifully carved, ornate woodwork surrounding the bar area, often incorporating stained glass, mirrors and brass rails into the design. Hunt down a local craftsperson or specialized company to create one for you. If you're feeling more adventurous, search for an antique bar (or parts of bars) at a salvage yard.
by Crisp Architects »
Select the right furniture. Choose something traditionally English to furnish your pub-style space. First made in the 1700s, Windsor chairs have a distinctive saddle shape, a wooden seat and a hooped back, and can make a pub feel more refined. Vintage wooden stools and wooden tables have more of an authentic feel. The more wobbly (technical term) the stool and the more beer coasters you need to shove under the offending leg, the more genuine it'll look.
by Rigsby Builders Inc. »
Fake smoky ceilings. The rules have changed, but pubgoers once smoked heavily in these spaces. The ceilings would get thickly tarred with cigarette smoke. Whitelocks, the oldest pub in the city of Leeds, England, was granted its first license in 1715. You can see years of tar stains built up on its ceiling.
If you don't like the idea of re-creating this look, try using some tarnished tin ceiling tiles, as in this bar area. The light-reflecting material warms up a space and feels genuine to pub style.
Traditional pub style feels cozy and warm, with lots of dark wood, low ceilings and roaring log fires. If you have the space, why not create a warm place to hole up in your home this winter and drink a few cheeky beers with friends? Here's how to get the look.
by Bob Michels Construction, Inc. »
Create a place to play. Pubs have always had some type of game available, although these have varied over the years, from draughts (board games) in Roman times, to rooster fighting somewhere along the way, to the pinball machines of the 1980s. Since the '70s, electronic games have overtaken more traditional games, although pool tables and dart boards are still widely popular.
Set up your own favorite games to entertain your friends and family in your home pub. If you have the space, a pool table can be a great investment. If not, a simple dartboard makes for great fun, too.
by Crisp Architects »
Name your establishment. Pubs often have quirky names. My locals growing up back in Yorkshire were The Scott's Arms, The Star and Garter, and The Windmill. There are more more oddly named pubs too, such as The Goat and Tricycle, The Wobbly Bobby and The Swan with Two Necks.
Have fun with this! Make up your own pub name and have a sign created.
by Hendel Homes »
Create a cozy atmosphere. Layer dark textures, like stone and wood. Avoid bright overhead light and integrate something softer, like iron wall sconces. If you have a fireplace, even better. A roaring log fire crackling in the background adds gentle light and warmth.
Consider installing wainscoting or some type of wood paneling on your walls to create visual warmth and texture.
by Debbiedoo's »
Use custom or antique woodwork. Many pubs have beautifully carved, ornate woodwork surrounding the bar area, often incorporating stained glass, mirrors and brass rails into the design. Hunt down a local craftsperson or specialized company to create one for you. If you're feeling more adventurous, search for an antique bar (or parts of bars) at a salvage yard.
by Crisp Architects »
Select the right furniture. Choose something traditionally English to furnish your pub-style space. First made in the 1700s, Windsor chairs have a distinctive saddle shape, a wooden seat and a hooped back, and can make a pub feel more refined. Vintage wooden stools and wooden tables have more of an authentic feel. The more wobbly (technical term) the stool and the more beer coasters you need to shove under the offending leg, the more genuine it'll look.
by Rigsby Builders Inc. »
Fake smoky ceilings. The rules have changed, but pubgoers once smoked heavily in these spaces. The ceilings would get thickly tarred with cigarette smoke. Whitelocks, the oldest pub in the city of Leeds, England, was granted its first license in 1715. You can see years of tar stains built up on its ceiling.
If you don't like the idea of re-creating this look, try using some tarnished tin ceiling tiles, as in this bar area. The light-reflecting material warms up a space and feels genuine to pub style.
