Pubs Glossary A to Z B Part 1

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BACCHUS – The Roman God of wine, so he is often depicted on pub signs and referred to in alcohol related literature. BACKING TAPES – Many live singers use these instead of musicians, which mean money paid for live entertainment need not be shared with other performers but it makes songs sound rather hollow and bland. BANK HOLIDAYS – Pubs often open extra-hours on bank holidays though most will close on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. BAR – Strictly, the bar is just the serving area in a public house or club but the pub itself may be referred to as a bar, or the bar. BAR BILLIARDS – Now rarely seen pub game variation on billiards involving extra holes in a snooker/billiards table and mushroom obstacles to avoid contact with. BAR BRAWL – A fight in a pub that ends up involving many people. Two customers might start fighting only for others to get involved when accidentally hit or trying to break up the fight or muscling in to help friends and family until chaos ensues. While bar brawls in movies look funny they can be extremely dangerous as being hit by real glass, chairs or tables, or even fists can do serious damage. If a brawl even looks imminent in a bar you are visiting, just leave. BAR-FLIES A/. A customer who stands or sits directly at the bar, often chatting to or distracting bar staff. Bar flies usually expect quick service or they may flirt with bar staff they hope to date. Bar flies can get in the way when other customers want serving. BAR FLIES B/. Actual flies, drawn to a bar by the yeasts in beers and sugar in other drinks. BAR-HATCH FLAPS – The hatch is the separator between the bar serving areas and customers, which staff can raise or lower when they need to get in or out of the serving areas. BAR SNACKS – pubs often sell nuts, crisps and pork scratchings as well as or instead of actual meals. Bar snacks tend to be quite salty to create more thirst and encourage more alcohol consumption. BAR-STEWARD – Someone who works in a bar BAR STOOL – As well as table seating, many pubs set up tall stools close to the bar for bar flies to occupy. BAR TAB – Trusted customers may be invited to run up a tab, and instead of paying for drinks one by one when ordered, they agree to settle a tab at set intervals or when it hits a certain sum of owed money. Most pubs and breweries no longer allow tabs (or slates) and most expect prompt payment on service. BAR TOWELS – Towels used to mop up spillage of beer on the bar top where drinks are served and collected. Some bar towels may be laid out on a bar top ready for use. Bar Towels often carry adverts and they can become highly collectable. The Youtube is a classic comedy moment involving a fall through an open bar hatch flap from Only Fools And Horses Arthur Chappell