Pubs in and near Rugby

The Bear Inn

Located on the outskirts of Rugby, The Bear at Bilton offers customers a friendly and comfortable environment in which they can enjoy a quiet drink with friends or tuck into one of our Award Winning, freshly prepared meals from our diverse menu. ... more

There's nothing quite like a traditional English pub: warm, welcoming, and of course, offering the best ales and beers. Take a break from your hectic English road-tripping - relax and enjoy a great meal and drink in one of England's great pubs. The atmosphere is lively and the food and drink is excellent.

England's pubs are often the centre of communities: places where locals gather and socialise, to eat, drink and chat with their friends. In the countryside, pubs are especially important in village life, and visiting these hospitable taverns will help you to get a real feeling for English country life.

The word 'pub' is short for 'public house', a Victorian term, but pubs were around in England centuries before the Victorian era.

People have been drinking ale since the Bronze Age, but the Romans were the first to establish inns along roads, in which tired travellers could refresh themselves. After the Romans left, it was left up to the Saxons to provide alehouses in their homes. The alehouse owner would put a green branch up on a pole to let people know the brew was ready for drinking. These establishments grew into meeting houses, where locals would meet to discuss the needs of the community, and this clearly lives on in the community-centred role that pubs play today.

In the middle ages, inns became popular for travellers, and many taverns were established in Elizabethan times. The introduction of gin to England in the 18th century led to a massive growth in the number of drinking establishments, and because of its cheapness it caused much drunkenness, especially among the poor, which led to restrictions being placed on the so-called 'gin palaces'.

In the twentieth century, pubs cleaned up their image and became more wholesome and family-friendly. There are now many different types, either traditional establishments which draw on the long history of English pubs, or innovative, trendy bars that put a modern twist on the pub concept. There are over 53,000 pubs in England and Wales together.

Pubs in Stratford-upon-Avon, such as the College Arms, tend to exude the olde world charm that is inherent to Shakespeare's birthplace. A proper country pub, this establishment was originally owned by King Henry VIII.

Many English pubs are part of a chain belonging to breweries, and this means that beer is often the cheapest and best thing to drink. When visting pubs in Bath, swing by the Coeur De Lion. Owned by Bath's only brewery, Abbey Ales, this little gem is mentioned in a guide to Britian's Top 100 Pubs. and also serves a wide range of British and European beers on tap.

Cider is very popular, especially in the West of England. English pubs also serve wine, spirits and soft drinks, although these can be more expensive than the beer and cider on offer.

Meals have increasingly become a very important part of the pub experience, and visiting an English pub is an ideal way to try out some authentic English dishes.

'Pub grub' includes delicious English meals such as fish and chips, bangers and mash, pie and gravy and the traditional roast-and-three-veg on Sundays. A lunchtime favourite is the tasty Ploughman's Lunch, supposedly based on a peasant's picnic meal, which includes a large wedge of Cheddar cheese, some bread, some pickles, and an onion. At smaller village pubs, you can often sample dishes that are unique to that region. One of the best pubs in Cambrige to grab a quick bite at has to be The Mitre. Established in 1752, the pub is now famous for its signature Mitre Steak Pie.

Pub food prices are normally very reasonable, so visiting a pub will be great for your budget as well as enriching your cultural experience of England. There are increasingly a large number of pubs, especially in larger towns and cities, which focus specifically on making quality food, calling themselves 'gastropubs'.

The proud and long history of English pubs is reflected in their traditional names, which date back over 600 years. Popular names include The Chequers, The White Swan, The Crown, The King's Arms, The Red Lion and The White Horse. These quaint names are illustrated on colourful wooden signs outside the establishments. Some establishments, like The Olde Ship Hotel, one of various pubs in Alnwick, even have themes- in this case a nautical trend that extends to their lip-smacking menu.

The history of these sometimes strange-sounding names and traditional signs began in 1393 when King Richard II forced landlords to erect signs outside their premises. This was done to to make them easily visible to passing inspectors who would determine the quality of the ale served. The pictures on the signs were important in the Middle Ages, as most of the population was illiterate, so people could easily identify a tavern.

Most British pubs still have decorated signs hanging over their doors. The names are fascinating, and often have an interesting history behind them. So when you next visit an English watering hole with a unique name (such as the Fox and Hounds, one of many delightful pubs in Liverpool) see if you can find out where it originated. You might uncover local legends and intriguing anecdotes.

Ye Old Fighting Cocks, one of the most interestingly named pubs in St Albans, also claims to be the oldest pub in Englnad. Dating from the 12th century, it was originally the dovecote for St Albans Abbey. After the Abbey closed, it was realised that its circular shape made it a perfect venue for cock fighting, and hence the pub's name.

Combining a pub crawl with your road trip around England is a wonderful way to experience English culture. Publicans all over the world try to replicate the unique English pub atmosphere, so make time to visit one (or many!) for a refreshing beer and hearty meal.