By Joyce Yang
Department of Business Administration, Fu-Jen

Talking about England, we have an impression of having tea for afternoon. But, have you got any idea what British people do for leisure after work? Maybe to your surprise, they spend a lot of nighttime drinking in the pub and that’s why nowadays more and more pubs are launched in England for meeting customers’ needs. You often see the next pub just few steps away from this one. This is a kind of special entertaining culture in Britain. There are three major reasons why the British love going to pubs.

Firstly, overcautious British people like to relieve their tension after work by having some drinking and talking after work. In the past, the “Pub” means “public house” where people exchanged their opinions and enhanced human relations. Today the pub still keeps the similar function. A lot of men like gathering to play poker games for fun or watch a football match together; women may gossip, while they all enjoy the joyful time with friends. In a pub, people can temporarily put down the burden that they undertake during the daytime and have a good time with buddies.

Secondly, a pub can be like an art gallery as well as Muses’ house for a pleasant stay. As to the art, many pubs in the UK have significant histories with elegant and artistic interior design. Even those modern ones are also designed creatively and often embodied with intriguing decoration. Unlike the identical fast-food chain, each pub in Britain has its unique style. Perhaps, that is why people love spending time in the pub, where is not only artistic but also creative in nature. Chaucer Geoffrey, the great medieval English novelist, once said what he heard in the pub was the best inspiration for writing. The writer owed his work to the lively atmosphere and the creativity in the pub.

Finally, most drinkers or diners in the pub would not leave until the bartender rings the bell for the last order around 11:00pm. The cheerful atmosphere in the pub makes them reluctant to leave. If there is any particular celebration for an important football match, for example, people may even wish to stay there overnight. It is said that going to the pub after a busy day is a routine in England. People not only relax their nerves, but express their emotions there. Maybe, the pub is just like their second home where people recharge their energy for facing tomorrow’s challenge.

Indeed the pub plays an important role to shorten the distance between people in Britain. People go there for drinking, making friends, relaxing and having fun. If you get a chance to visit the UK, don’t forget to join the British people to experience the nightlife in a pub. What is more, do remember to look around and appreciate the interesting interior design!

*資料來源 : “英國女王有請”　*作者: 鄭麗園　*出版社: 聯經出版社