What I love about pubs: Joe Williams

Joe Williams on what he loves about pubs.

We went to a new pub round the corner on Saturday night. Having just moved to London, my flatmate and I are still looking for a regular haunt, so we ventured out with his long-term girlfriend in search of a local.

The place - the Belle Vue near Clapham Common - was heaving and, having spent all day struggling with flat-packed furniture and missing Allen keys, I wasn't in the mood for standing around.

For 20 minutes we loitered in the middle of the bar. We were one person short of a comfortable set and conversation was further stunted by the three of us scanning the room for a vacant table.

Eventually, we spotted three spare seats next to a group of raucous 20-somethings and we awkwardly approached - one of the things I noticed first about London was the outright hostility between its residents. It's all-out warfare getting on the tube during rush hour.

"Is it all right if we sit here, mate?" I asked the bloke on the end. "Course it *?**?** is," he replied, pulling out the chair for my mate's girlfriend. "The name's John. Can I get you all a drink?" So we spent the rest of the evening talking, laughing and drinking with John and his pals.

It might be hostile on the streets of London but you see its residents at their best in its bars and pubs. Plus I got a wink out of the girl opposite me.

I suspect the three of us will return this weekend.