[jan]

:cheers :cheers

Iv`e been told that there are no `pubs` -so to speak in NZ. (not like British pubs. People finding it hard to explain what watering holes are actually like in NZ)

It has been explained to us about how friendly Kiwi`s are and that it is a preference to invite friends & neighbours around to your home.

Is this kind of trade not allowed for one reason or another or is it just something that is just waiting to be aroused.

jan xx :cheers

[Timbo]

I cant say that I speak for the whole of NZ, but certainly in the relatively small area we visited there were plenty of watering holes. They tended to be either hotels or sports bars serving food alongside a beer or two. Certainly very social places to go for a drink though. There was always a local up for giving the poms a thrash at pool (I nearly said up for giving the poms a thrash on the pool table but decided against it).

[veronica]

theres a bar in Christchurch called the Twisted Hop and the guy has just started up his own brewery making UK type beers and there is a pub type place called Pomeroys on Kilmore street. the word Pub covers such a wide spectrum of drinking places in the UK its hard to know what is now meant by the word.

[ruthyroo]

Can only speak for Rotorua, but yes the majority of 'pubs' are pretty rough drinking shops, with entertainment of the pokie kind and overall pretty grim, where the serious drinking goes on. The main alternative are theme type bars - irish bars are perennially popular - which also serve food, have quiz nights etc. There are also a few wine bar type places and hotel bars, which are a bit soul-less. I have been told that NZ just doesn't have the same pub culture as the UK, and I really miss my favourite Edinburgh boozers on a cold winter night! Auckland and other big cities no doubt have more choice.

[Diny]

There's hunreds of pubs in NZ. However, they're not what I would call a pub.

They are more like sports & social clubs, big rooms with lots of tables that you stand around (some bar stools of course). Pokie machines and the obligatory meat raffle.

Not saying there's anything wrong with them but the ones I've visited are as far off the 'British Pub' as it's possible to get.

Can't say I'll be visiting many more - I'd rather have mates around and have abit of a social at home.

Diny

[jo b]

As long as I'm invited Diny :nice1 :cheers

Jo

[Lil]

I saw quite a lot around Auckland areas, there's a chain called "Cock & Bull" or something similar, O'Neil's Irish Pubs and some "(Something) and Firkins"

[Diny]

That goes without saying Jo :nice1

We can do abit of 'hands on' testing of those Kiwi wines I keep reading about. :cheers

Diny

[toots]

There are some British type pubs here.

There's always "Mad Dogs and English Men" .

But there are some better Brit pubs though. 2 Spring to mind - there is a mock Tudor place on the seafront in Browns Bay (the only place that had any life in it on New Years Eve) and the one at Botany Town Centre

[captainxmas]

There is an 'English' type pub on the Tauranga Strand, 'The something and Badger' I think and very comfortable it was too.

We kind of wandered in by mistake and politely bought a couple of beers. :cheers

[Carol]

That goes without saying Jo :nice1

We can do abit of 'hands on' testing of those Kiwi wines I keep reading about. :cheers

Diny


I'm up for it too!!
I've got quite a bit of experience in this department oddly enough....... you can both draw on my knowledge anythime you like!
;) :nice1

[captainxmas]

That's reminded me, they sell White Cloud sparkling in Countdown (NZ) and it's yummy! :cheers

[Carol]

That's reminded me, they sell White Cloud sparkling in Countdown (NZ) and it's yummy! :cheers\

I used to drink that.......but it has been relegated to the bottom shelf in favour of the hundreds of better ones.
ooooohhhhhh I think I'll open a bottle of Selaks Cab Sav RIGHT now!
I happen to have one in my fridge winking at me... ;) :laugh

[captainxmas]

Sorry Carol, but it was asimple pleasure and it kept my Aunty happy! :clap

[Timbo]

That would be the Crown and Badger I think Capt.

[captainxmas]

Correct Timbo!

At least they didn't serve all day English Breakfasts and play 'Only fools and Horses' videos all day like the sad 'pubs' across the Med. :no

[Carol]

Sorry Carol, but it was asimple pleasure and it kept my Aunty happy! :clap


the simplest pleasures are by far the best I agree.........


Did she buy it for you then?

[captainxmas]

Nah, it was our contribution to the BBQ - after all I hadn't seen them in 10 years!

Besides Mrs Xmas loves anything with bubbles. :clap

[miep]

Ok all you Brits,

I've been wondering about this for a while now, and please don't take this in the wrong way, but exactly what defines a british pub? How is it different from bars elsewhere in the world?

I don't count TAB's as pubs by the way, they're just betting shops that sell beer aswell. Anywhere the furniture is bolted to the floor (as in most TAB's) needs to be avoided like the plague. But aside from those establishments there are a lot of pubs well worth visiting which I'm sure most of you will agree, but they still seem to lack something compared to a "British pub". So what is this elusive something?

:cheers Miep :cheers

[Moorf]

The elusive Tanglefoot and Bishops Finger :nice1

[Timbo]

That elusive something eh..

Warm beer
Stale smokey atmosphere
Miserable barstaff
Dingey surroundings (untouched since 1974)
If you do smoke, the fag machine charges you the equivalent of your mortgage for 15 ciggs
Bar food straight from the "microwave cookbook for idiots"


Probably an over generalisation, but the above is pretty accurate for the pubs in my area. The daft thing is, in spite it all, they do a roaring trade.