What I Love About Pubs: Kerry Barrett

When I was a student there was nothing I enjoyed more than being crammed into a noisy boozer to neck gallons of tasteless lager as fast as possible....

When I was a student there was nothing I enjoyed more than being crammed into a noisy boozer to neck gallons of tasteless lager as fast as possible. But now I'm a bit (OK, a lot) older I find my tastes have changed.

When I'm picking a pub I consider the background music - will I be able to hear my friends talk? The seating arrangements - will I be able to sit down and rest my work-weary legs? Will I go home reeking of smoke or does it have a no-smoking area? And, most importantly, will I get a nice bottle of pinot grigio? All of which sounds terribly dull and is probably proof that I really am well past my sell-by date.

But what I really love about pubs is that they catered for me when all I cared about was cheap promos and loud music, they cater for me now when I want good conversation, nice food and a bottle of wine, and I have no doubt they'll still be appealing to me in 25 - or even 50 - years time.

Whatever mood you're in, however old you are, whether you want posh nosh, burger and chips or a bag of pork scratchings, whether your tipple is cask ale, alcopops or champagne, if you want to listen to live music, watch the football, win a quiz, play darts, hear the latest gossip or simply catch up with friends - somewhere there'll be a pub for you. What's not to love?