Can any of our more mature members remember when drinks in a pub taproom were charged at a lower price than in the 'best' room?

How could they justify this and would it be legal to practice in this day and age?

I assume that it was to reflect the quality of decor/seating etc but the bar staff costs and heating/lighting would obviously be the same in both rooms?

I can go back to beer being 29p a pint in the tap room and 30p in the lounge. 20 Benson & Hedges cost 56p so the differentials are about the same as today (I think)

Yes, I can remember that.

The tradition was to charge 1 pence less in the tap room than the lounge. I can remember it being 11p a pint in the tap room and 12p in the lounge. I am not as old as you think as these prices are dug up from when I was about fifteen and a 'regular' at the Shiregreen Hotel.

Fags, I think, were about the same price for 10 (No 6). So in comparison, the price of cigarettes have gone through the roof.

Originally posted by Mo
Can any of our more mature members remember when drinks in a pub taproom were charged at a lower price than in the 'best' room?

How could they justify this and would it be legal to practice in this day and age?

I assume that it was to reflect the quality of decor/seating etc but the bar staff costs and heating/lighting would obviously be the same in both rooms?

I can go back to beer being 29p a pint in the tap room and 30p in the lounge. 20 Benson & Hedges cost 56p so the differentials are about the same as today (I think)

Some pubs still do this. Why not just buy your drinks in the tap room and take them into the lounge?

This would also date to the time where women would only be served beer in half glasses in certain lounges.
Presumably women drinking pints in the best room were considered unladylike and seen to be "lowering the tone" (?)
The tariff on the best rooms was to help pay for the superoir decor and comfort expected by feminine drinkers and their companions.

These days, rip-off prices and the growing trend for large barn-like watering holes with little resemblance to a traditional pub has largely done away with this phenomenon.

How many pubs have a tap room where darts, cards and dominoes are regulary played these days?

In the back bar of our local we play backgammon a lot.
Also go to a pub in Nantwich were on room is a games room, whenever we go people (including us) play cards and doms, and the dart board is always in use too.

Originally posted by Mo
I can go back to beer being 29p a pint in the tap room and 30p in the lounge. 20 Benson & Hedges cost 56p so the differentials are about the same as today (I think)
*Sidla likes the sound of this, and strives to invent a time machine*

Originally posted by fuzzy
In the back bar of our local we play backgammon a lot.
Also go to a pub in Nantwich were on room is a games room, whenever we go people (including us) play cards and doms, and the dart board is always in use too.
Good to hear it but it's definately a minority of boozers these days isn't it? I've noticed folks playing backgammon in the White Lion though. Is this a growing trend as a pub activity?