For thousands of years, the most important building in any British village has been the pub. Traditionally, the pub is at the heart of any village or town, since it is where the people gather to socialise and exchange news. 【小题1】

British pubs are often old and well preserved. 【小题2】 One of the most famous examples is the pub in the city of Nottingham called “Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem”, which dates back to the year AD 1189 and is probably the oldest pub in England.

There are many British pubs named after a king or a queen, but of course this doesn’t mean they are only for kings and queens. 【小题3】 On a cold night, the pub’s landlord or land-lady can always find a warm place for you by the fire. There is always honest and hearty food and plenty of drink available at an affordable price.

That’s how it used to be. 【小题4】 Economic declines and cultural changes are causing many pubs to go out of business. People do not have a lot of money to spend on beer. Additionally, in 2007 smoking was banned in all public indoor spaces, including pubs, which also affected the numbers of customers going to pubs.

【小题5】 Now there are a number of different types of pubs, such as a “traditional pub” with a large open fire, a “gastro pub” (美食酒吧) serving higher quality food, a “theme pub” which caters to specific types of customers. And with various “save the pub” campaigns, there are signs that pubs are becoming popular again.