Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this episode I’m joined by beer and pub writer Will Hawkes, who has spent years travelling the country and visiting thousands of pubs for his reporting. We talk honestly about where British pub culture stands in the 2020s: the closures, the economic pressures, but also the surprising resurgence of affection for traditional boozers with carpets, darts boards and multiple rooms. Will argues that while the industry has been shrinking for over a century, what people still crave is the warmth, social glue and sense of belonging that only a great pub can provide.
From there we explore how pubs have evolved since the post-war years, from the dominance of breweries and the rise of the Big Six, through to gastropubs, craft beer and the shifting power of pub companies. Will explains why the person running a pub matters more than anything else, how regional quirks still define pub culture, and why some fiercely idiosyncratic rural pubs continue to thrive despite being miles from anywhere. We also dive into pub history, from gin palaces and tiled Victorian interiors to misleading claims about “the oldest pub in England”, and what really separates a pub from a bar or restaurant. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about class, nostalgia, architecture, community and why, despite everything, pubs still matter.
Will can be found at willhawkes.org
00:00 What can we learn about pubs in the 2020’s? What Unifies the best pubs?
05:01 How Pubs Adapted in the Mid-Century: New Bars, Lager, Food - The Function of the Pub
09:50 Regional Quirks in Pubs: Architecture, Materials, Layout, Class Divides in Pubs
15:30 The Unique Beauty of the Pub, How to Appreciate a Pub, Local Experience*
20:25 The History of the Pub, How Pubs Evolved, Are Gastro Pubs Pubs?
27:20 The DNA of a Pub, Burton & London Brewers, Gin Palaces, The Brewer/Pub Relationship in the 20th Century
37:45 Pub Names, Pub Signs, Southampton Arms*, Hunter’s Lodge Inn, Red Lion Snargate,
47:20 Parlour Pubs & Pubs with Personalities
51:35 Challenges for Pubs in 2026, Cost of Beer
58:20 Cask Ale Revival?
1:03:15 The Past, Present and Future of Craft Beer
1:10:10 Is This The Best Time to Drink Beer?
1:13:20 The Rise of Guinness*
1:18:00 Looking Ahead
1:21:54 Quickfires - Best Pub Food, Best Pub Music, Best Pint, Best Pub Sign, Best Pub Name, Best London Pub, Quirkiest Pub,
📷 Follow me on Instagram - instagram.com/tristanstephenson
📚 I've written quite a few books on spirits and cocktails - thecuriousbartender.com
In this episode I’m joined by beer and pub writer Will Hawkes, who has spent years travelling the country and visiting thousands of pubs for his reporting. We talk honestly about where British pub culture stands in the 2020s: the closures, the economic pressures, but also the surprising resurgence of affection for traditional boozers with carpets, darts boards and multiple rooms. Will argues that while the industry has been shrinking for over a century, what people still crave is the warmth, social glue and sense of belonging that only a great pub can provide.
From there we explore how pubs have evolved since the post-war years, from the dominance of breweries and the rise of the Big Six, through to gastropubs, craft beer and the shifting power of pub companies. Will explains why the person running a pub matters more than anything else, how regional quirks still define pub culture, and why some fiercely idiosyncratic rural pubs continue to thrive despite being miles from anywhere. We also dive into pub history, from gin palaces and tiled Victorian interiors to misleading claims about “the oldest pub in England”, and what really separates a pub from a bar or restaurant. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about class, nostalgia, architecture, community and why, despite everything, pubs still matter.
Will can be found at willhawkes.org
00:00 What can we learn about pubs in the 2020’s? What Unifies the best pubs?
05:01 How Pubs Adapted in the Mid-Century: New Bars, Lager, Food - The Function of the Pub
09:50 Regional Quirks in Pubs: Architecture, Materials, Layout, Class Divides in Pubs
15:30 The Unique Beauty of the Pub, How to Appreciate a Pub, Local Experience*
20:25 The History of the Pub, How Pubs Evolved, Are Gastro Pubs Pubs?
27:20 The DNA of a Pub, Burton & London Brewers, Gin Palaces, The Brewer/Pub Relationship in the 20th Century
37:45 Pub Names, Pub Signs, Southampton Arms*, Hunter’s Lodge Inn, Red Lion Snargate,
47:20 Parlour Pubs & Pubs with Personalities
51:35 Challenges for Pubs in 2026, Cost of Beer
58:20 Cask Ale Revival?
1:03:15 The Past, Present and Future of Craft Beer
1:10:10 Is This The Best Time to Drink Beer?
1:13:20 The Rise of Guinness*
1:18:00 Looking Ahead
1:21:54 Quickfires - Best Pub Food, Best Pub Music, Best Pint, Best Pub Sign, Best Pub Name, Best London Pub, Quirkiest Pub,
📷 Follow me on Instagram - instagram.com/tristanstephenson
📚 I've written quite a few books on spirits and cocktails - thecuriousbartender.com
