Pub Culture Is For Everyone! (Cunningham)

By Madden Cunningham.

London’s vast pub culture is something I have only started to truly appreciate recently. Coming into my time abroad, my family that lives outside of London would always talk about going to their “local” after work, either to watch a football (soccer) game, enjoy a nice meal, converse with others, or have a pint. Through my time exploring the city I have seen numerous pubs. Some, such as Ye Old Watling, opened hundreds of years ago, dating all the way back to the 1500s. Compared to Britain’s afternoon tea culture, pub culture demonstrates the less polished, more casual side of English social lives. In comparison to American drinking traditions and customs, one could say American bars are associated with much tougher members of society, whereas the British pub seems to be open and welcoming to all sorts of people of different backgrounds. A new pub recently opened right down the road from me in Kentish Town called The Parakeet. Upon entering, I was greeted by a very cozy atmosphere that reminded me a lot of home. Inside, the lighting was dim and welcoming, and surrounding us were couches and cushioned chairs to make guests as comfortable as possible. There were obviously people who had just gotten out of work given their attire, but there were also families eating with their children and people of my age as well. Although they have a regular dinner menu for Monday- Saturday, they had a new Sunday Roast menu I was lucky to experience recently. Apparently, they have a well-known chef that will be focused on “premium, seasonal produce, and fire cooking” over their custom flame grill.

Unfortunately, they were out of roast chicken, and since I don’t eat red meat this made it difficult for me to choose an alternative. I asked the waiter and he told me the celeriac Wellington was a great vegetarian alternative, and it definitely did not disappoint! The meal was delicious and came with all the fixings, including Yorkshire pudding, gravy, roast potatoes, carrots, and a side salad.

A few weeks before our roast, me and my friends sat on a couch next to some people we hadn’t met before after they invited us to come and sit because there was enough space. In America, I feel like this gesture wouldn’t be as common, and people would tend to keep to themselves and the people they came with. However, we spent a good hour talking to this group of friends who lived right outside in Camden. We talked about our time so far in London as well as school, work, and so much more. It was so refreshing to have such a lively conversation with people I had just met, and this is an experience I feel has been a part of British traditions for centuries and continues to be upheld by its citizens today. I feel like going to a pub is a “mental break” from anyone who enters. Whether or not you’re going to drink, you will definitely feel the incomparably talkative and relaxing atmosphere

The main room in the Parakeet on a crowded weekend night
The Parakeet’s main dining room, showing the comfortable atmosphere and a small selection of their seasonal menu.
Delicious Sunday Roast, featuring roast beef (top) and a vegetarian celeriac Wellington (bottom)