It's all talk

British men are three times more likely to be talking about their wife or girlfriend over a beer in the pub than they were a year ago, according to a new poll.

Research into Britain's favourite pub talk topics, commissioned for the Beautiful Beer campaign, shows that while sport (64%), work (40%) and news and politics (40%) are the most popular subjects of pub conversation, the number of men talking about their wife or girlfriend has rocketed from just 9 per cent to 26 per cent over the last year.

Men are also more comfortable talking about their sex lives (up from 24% to 27% over the past year) and their social lives (up from 34% to 42%).

There has been an 11 per cent increase in the number of men talking about fashion in the pub. Sport, Work, News and politics are the most popular subjects of bar chat amongst men​

Women's bar stool chat has also changed over the last year, with increases in the number talking about work (up from 30% to 35%) and news and politics (up from 22% to 28%).

Women are also more likely to talk about sex than they were a year ago (up from 14% to 19%), though surprisingly the weather is a more popular topic of conversation at 20 per cent.

Chat about sport and cars is also up, though women's favourite subject remains their social lives (59%).

The hub of British social life​Pete Brown, author of "Man Walks into a Pub: A Sociable History of Beer", comments: "It's incredible to think about, but the pub has been the hub of British social life for a thousand years.​

"Over that time it's always been the place where people meet to relax, and just to be themselves, so what we talk about in the pub reveals the truth about what's really important to us.

"This research proves that men are a lot more thoughtful and articulate than we are often given credit for. Blokes are more in touch with their feelings these days - and the place where they feel most comfortable expressing them is over a beer in the pub."

The research also revealed that people's topics of conversation at the bar change as they age.

In the 18-24 age group, 63 per cent plan their social life in the pub, dropping to 41% among 55-64 year-olds. Among 25-34 year-olds, 34 per cent talk about sex, compared to 12 per cent among 55-64 year-olds, and 42 per cent talk about their spouse or partner, against 21 per cent in the older age group.

The 35-44 age group is the most likely to talk about work (48%) and about sport (47%) and the over 65s talk more about weather than any other group (26%).

What people talk about in the pub also varies across the UK.

The Scots talk more than anyone else about sport (48%) and the Welsh are top for fashion and make up tips (25%).

People in East Anglia talk more than any other about their spouse or partner (46%), work or news.

Pubgoers in the East Midlands are the most likely to talk about sex (30%) while those in the south west talk more about the weather than anyone else (25%).

Drinkers in the north talk more about their social lives (58%), and those in the north west are happy to chat about politics over a pint (38%), but the least comfortable talking about sex (16%).