Some pub history in the UK - the last few thousand years.
The First Taverns were actually in Ancient Sumer (Mesopotamia), circa 2700 BC.
Archaeologists have uncovered a public eating–drinking house at the site of Lagash (in modern day southern Iraq), dated to around 2700 BC. This so called “tavern” featured benches, serving dishes (some with fish and meat residues), a kitchen and even an ancient “refrigerator,” showing that Sumerians already enjoyed communal eating and drinking over 4,700 years ago
The First Inns (Lodging Houses) were in Ancient Persia, from the 5th Century BC.
As trade and travel expanded under the Achaemenid Persians, they built caravanserais (road side inns) and smaller khans about every 20–30 miles along major routes (notably the Royal Road). These were fortified, multi room complexes offering food, shelter and stabling for both people and beasts. The earliest extant examples date to c. 500 BC
The term taberna in Roman usage covered everything from a street facing shop to a food and drink stall and evidence for them appears very early in the Republic:
Literary evidence (late 5th century BC). Livy recounts (Book VI.25) how, when Marcus Furius Camillus besieged Tusculum (circa 389 BC), he entered the city and found “all kinds of things exposed for sale in the stalls” a clear reference to tabernae operating as open shops and market style eating and drinking places.
From Archaeological evidence, The oldest excavated Roman “tavern” dates (circa 125 BC, i.e. 2,100 years ago). In the former Greek Celtic port of Lattara (modern Lattes, southern France), excavators uncovered the remains of what is likely the oldest identified Roman tavern a bench lined dining hall, kitchen with millstones and ovens, and an attached “bar” area. Radiocarbon and pottery dates place it around 125 BC, soon after Roman conquest of the region
Provincial and urban proliferation (1st century BC). By Pompeii’s heyday (buried in 79 AD) there were over 100 popinae (wine bars) and thermopolia (hot food counters), showing that tavern style outlets were ubiquitous in both city and country.
The Monty Python troupe formed in 1969 were Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin; and had several hit films, including,
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) – a send up of Arthurian legend; Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979) – a satirical look at religious zealotry; and Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (1983) – a series of sketches.
In the Life of Brian, the question "What have the Romans ever done for us?" led to
“Well… apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system, and public health…”; Yeah not much, really.
Some years ago I visited the old town of Pompei, and mentioned the taverna which was in reference to nearly 2000 years ago. This was Pompeii, and which was largely destroyed in 79 AD by the eruption of Vesuvius. It is a brilliant place to visit, as is Herculaneum, which is another site nearby, and equally visitable.
But as important in this complex history is the other major improvements in infrastructure and living standards, e.g.
Roads and Infrastructure – "All roads lead to Rome" wasn’t just a flex; their roads were incredibly well-engineered. The same goes for Great Britain where the beautifully straight Roman-built roads leading from the seaports in the south and northwards through London are so important in a developed country or state.
Aqueducts – Advanced water delivery systems that are still studied today; and sometimes involved as parts of canal systems.
Architecture & Concrete – Arches, domes, and the Pantheon? Roman concrete lasts longer than some modern stuff. Most of Roman London, and in the UK is largely Archeological only.
Legal Systems – Roman law influenced much of Western legal thought.
Calendar – Julius Caesar gave us the Julian calendar of ten months.
Languages – Latin is the root of the Romance languages: Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Romanian.
Wine and Olive Oil – Staples of the Mediterranean diet, and the Romans helped spread them across Europe.
Republicanism – Early ideas of governance that influenced modern democracies.
So what is the history of pubs in the UK, or where they originally started.
In Anglo-Saxon times (roughly 5th to 11th century England), which are largely undocumented until modern Archeology discovers they were far more skilled in metalwork and other trades, than many realise, e.g. Sutton Hoo is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the UK, located near Woodbridge in Suffolk. It’s famous for a spectacular Anglo-Saxon ship burial discovered in 1939, which dramatically changed our understanding of early medieval England. The concept of “inns” as we think of them today—commercial establishments specifically built for travellers didn't really exist yet.
Hospitality was a moral and social duty. Wealthy households (especially thegns or lords) were expected to offer shelter and food to travellers, messengers, or pilgrims.
Monasteries often acted as the closest thing to an "inn" as they had guest houses (hospitia). Pilgrims, travellers, and even nobles on the road could stay there. Monasteries had rules about hospitality written into their charters.
There were Alehouses, which were often just someone’s home where ale was brewed and sold. Mead halls were communal spaces in villages or manors, mainly used for feasts and gatherings, but a traveler might be allowed to rest there.
Waystations sometimes existed along major routes, especially royal ones. The king’s retinue needed places to stop, and local lords were often required to provide them. The “King’s houses” or “royal vills” might be used for such purposes.
And later came the Normans with William the Conqueror in 1066, and who removed many traces of Angles and Saxons. Their early versions of public lodging houses provided food, drink, and a place to sleep; often in a shared room or on the floor. Theye were typically located along major roads, pilgrimage routes, or in towns, and particularly near market towns, cathedrals, castles, or along trade and pilgrimage routes (such as the route to Canterbury). London, Winchester, and other growing towns would have a few more formal inns.
They were usually run by private individuals or families, and sometimes former servants or those tied to the local lord.
The innkeeper might also brew their own ale or keep stables for horses. Merchants, pilgrims, messengers, officials, and the occasional knight or noble would use these public lodging houses, whilst wealthy travelers usually stayed with lords or monasteries instead.
Inns also served as social hubs where travelers shared stories, heard local gossip, or exchanged news. Privacy was rare. You didn’t expect comfort, just shelter and food such as a meal (likely stew, bread, and ale), somewhere to sleep (a bench, a pile of straw, or a shared bed).
Monasteries still played a huge role, especially for pilgrims. Hospices or guest houses run by religious orders were common along pilgrimage routes.
After the Normans, were the Plantagenets from about 1154 to 1485, and included Richard the Lionheart, King John (who signed Magna Carta), Edward I (“Hammer of the Scots”), Edward III (Hundred Years' War) and Richard II; and then it was the War of the Roses between York and Lancaster. The Winners were The Tudors, when Henry Tudor (Henry VII) defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Thus started the Tudor dynasty.
Britain has several ancient inns and taverns, some of which claim to be the oldest. Its all allegedly true, but not necessarily as provided by the establishment.
First is, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem in Nottingham. It claims to have been founded in 1189 AD (the year Richard the Lionheart became king!). It is carved into the rock beneath Nottingham Castle, with the name referring to pilgrims Won their way to the Holy Land.
Second is,. Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans, which claims to have been founded around 793 AD (during the Anglo-Saxon period!). The Guinness World Records once listed it as the oldest pub in England. It has been rebuilt over time, but the site itself has very old foundations which were once linked to nearby Verulamium Abbey.
Thirdly is The Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold, in the Cotswolds, The building dates to circa 947 AD, according to some records. It was originally a hospice owned by a local monastery.
Fourthly is The Royal Standard of England, in Forty Green, Buckinghamshire which claims to have continuous operation for over 900 years. It was connected to medieval royalty, hence the “Royal Standard.” It was used as a hideout during the English Civil War.
And fifth is the George Inn, in outhwark, London which dates from the 17th century, but the site has hosted inns since medieval times. It is the Last surviving galleried coaching inn in London; and is mentioned by Charles Dickens in Little Dorrit.
The number and regulation of beerhouses and public houses in Britain have been shaped by centuries of laws, reflecting changing attitudes toward alcohol, morality, health, and public order.
The Licensing Act of 1552 in the Tudor Period saw the first real state control of alehouses. It required alehouse keepers to be licensed by magistrates. The Aim was to Reduce drunkenness and disorder in rapidly growing towns.
The Alehouse Act 1604 (James I) reinforced this licensing system; and Allowed magistrates to close disorderly houses. this linked public houses to local justice systems.
The Tippling Act of 1751 was a reaction to the Gin Craze in cities like London. It restricted sale of spirits and gave more power to magistrates. Its aims were to reduce crime and social breakdown.
The Beerhouse Act 1830 was the major turning point! It allowed anyone to brew and sell beer (not spirits) by paying a small fee—no magistrate license needed (2 guineas, which is two punds and 10 pence in modern modern times). This resulted in a huge increase in beerhouses, especially in working-class areas. If you visit many Hertfordshire towns in the 1840 and 1850 census, particularly those on the roads leading northwards, you will discover nearly every other house was a beerhouse or alehouse at this time. The intention was to steer people away from gin (seen as worse) and toward "milder" beer which many people drank instead of water as it was more likely to be safer to drink, the fermentation process killed bugs. Tea also played an important role in the developing towns and during times of overcrowding, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. In rapidly growing industrial towns—often crowded, unsanitary, and hard on the working class—tea offered more than just refreshment. Health and hygiene: Boiling water for tea helped reduce waterborne diseases in areas with poor sanitation. Even though people didn’t fully understand germs, tea-drinking unintentionally promoted safer hydration, just like beer.
The Licensing Acts (1872 & 1874) then re-introduced tighter control over pubs, setting opening hours, banned serving drunks, and fined landlords who broke the rules. The Police also got authority to inspect and shut down dodgy premises.
The Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) in 1914, was a WWI measure to stop drunkenness and keep munitions workers sober.
with shortened pub hours and banned buying rounds. Pubs had to close earlier and this was a rule that lasted for decades!
The Licensing Act of 1961 Introduced more flexibility in pub hours, especially for rural areas.
Finally the Licensing Act 1988 ended mandatory afternoon closures. Pubs could stay open all day, which changed drinking culture again. This was enforced by the Licensing Act 2003 which allowed 24-hour opening (in theory), though few took full advantage. But the Smoking Ban in (2007) was a major factor in pub closures.
The trend seems to be towards a Rise of pub chains (e.g. Stonegate) and decline of independent locals. Many old beerhouses and pubs have been converted to homes, shops, or restaurants.
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