Ye Olde Good Inn Guide - drinking in the 16th century
I'm definitely buying this one! Researchers James Moore and Paul Nero have written a Good Pub Guide for the 16th century - based on documents in the British Library.
The study features a guide to around 250 actual hostelries from around the country, describing them as they were at the end of the sixteenth century. Some of them still survive - such as The George, in Norton St Philip, near Bath [I've been there!] - but others - such as The White Horse, in Ipswich, which is now a coffee shop - have disappeared.
As well as providing details for the specific establishments, the researchers James Moore and Paul Nero, have also produced an accompanying guide to pub culture of the day, including the food, drink and entertainment on offer, as well as a glossary of useful terms from the time.
Mr Moore said: “It was a golden age for the pub, with around 20,000 pubs for four million inhabitants - one pub per 200 people - compared with about 50,000 for 62 million now - about one for every 1,200.
According to one account they cite, drinkers in Coventry would enjoy an average of 17 pints of ale per week. Another suggested that the three or four pints was the usual intake for a trip to the pub, but that it was not uncommon for some thirsty regulars to get through a gallon of ale - eight pints - per day. By contrast, figures show the average adult nowadays drinks around 11.5 units a week - about four pints of strong beer.
It's called “Ye Olde Good Inn Guide” and is available now!
Source
The study features a guide to around 250 actual hostelries from around the country, describing them as they were at the end of the sixteenth century. Some of them still survive - such as The George, in Norton St Philip, near Bath [I've been there!] - but others - such as The White Horse, in Ipswich, which is now a coffee shop - have disappeared.
As well as providing details for the specific establishments, the researchers James Moore and Paul Nero, have also produced an accompanying guide to pub culture of the day, including the food, drink and entertainment on offer, as well as a glossary of useful terms from the time.
Mr Moore said: “It was a golden age for the pub, with around 20,000 pubs for four million inhabitants - one pub per 200 people - compared with about 50,000 for 62 million now - about one for every 1,200.
According to one account they cite, drinkers in Coventry would enjoy an average of 17 pints of ale per week. Another suggested that the three or four pints was the usual intake for a trip to the pub, but that it was not uncommon for some thirsty regulars to get through a gallon of ale - eight pints - per day. By contrast, figures show the average adult nowadays drinks around 11.5 units a week - about four pints of strong beer.
It's called “Ye Olde Good Inn Guide” and is available now!
Source