British pub food

Once upon a time it was only just a hand full of pubs would have done food. But now almost every pub that is open has some kind of food on offer. And you can get almost any thing form the exotic to the basic.

In fact if you walk around the average town or city centre you will see any number of pub restaurant chains that will cater from the big grill stake house to just a light sandwich the choice is endless and varied.

One of the biggest pub chins that have emerged over the last few years is the J.D.Wertherspoon. This particular chain of pubs has spread slowly threw out the country and now offer a very competitive and varied menu. You can walk in and get a curry, steak, salad, tex mex you name it. Many of the other larger pub chains have done the same and started to go for a menu that can cover almost any thing that you want to eat at a reasonable price. The problem is that although they are tremendous value they might not be that good.

I pub that can offer so many things all from one kitchen and keep the price so low is doing one thing. Purchasing a centrally produced meal, made in bulk and to a cost. This then can be replicated in any of the houses and that means you can keep staff costs down. Good if you are a consumer just looking for a cheap and cheerful meal but not so good for all the other little pubs who are trying to fight against them in the high street. But they do have a place in the market and are very busy so customers do like them.

But if you are not looking for a big chain then you have still got many of other places that will offer you the tradition pub meal. Steak and kidney pie and chips, ploughman’s lunch and deep fried scampi. These kinds of meals are the staple of most pubs form many years. Giving you a simple home cooked meal that was flavour full and good value. You could not beat a plate of cold ham, home made chips and fried eggs. A particular dish I remember from one pub that it was famous for.

And then now more and more you are getting what has become know as the gastropubs. The gastropub is a traditional pub that has been taken over by a chef. If not a chef a restaurateur how have brought the food of fine dining to the surroundings of the average pub. That was the basic idea that a lot of country pubs that had been struggling or closed, have reopened with a strong emphasis on good food. A number of them now are leading the way in food and getting good number eating at them. Also some of this has been in conjunction with the growth of the micro brewery as well. With the ever growing confidence in British food and food culture the gastro pub you can often find locally sourced and produced food cooked and presented at the very heist level.

British pub food has come a long way from its chicken in a basket image and now could be held up as leading the way. As for what will come next I do not know. Pubs are struggling and closing in a very competitive market. So what will have to happen I hope that we have a bigger drive towards quality food and drinks. And a little less of the mass chain owned pub. But that is down to the customer and I am sure that there is room in the market for them both.

But as long as you can get a good pint of real ale, a plate of crusty bread, cheese and pickles I will be happy.