Erudite, quirky, and amusing.

Sebastian Faulks

I never expected to read a philosophically alert book on British pubs … Philip Howell breathes life into this well-known but poorly understood object.

Graham Harman, Professor of Philosophy, Southern California Institute of Architecture

An affectionate prose poem to the pub.

Lizzie Collingham, writer and food historian

A thoughtful, informative and amusing guide to the varying qualities of 'publand'.

James Kneale, Professor in Geography, University College London, UK

In this concise but fascinating book, Philip Howell takes the reader on a journey through medieval taverns to the craft beer bars of the 21st century – cramming in terrific trivia along the way … This book is partly a love letter and partly a plea to encourage us to get down to the local boozer, enjoy a tipple or two and maybe even brave an ale.

James Carey-Douglas, The Mail on Sunday

What makes a pub a pub? In this entertaining - even humorous - account, historical geographer Philip Howell endeavours to answer this question, probing the many factors that define 'publand' … This is a study of reinvention - of an institution that has changed over time, yet still possesses common characteristics with its predecessors. The pub remains, despite many trials and tribulations over the centuries, very much part of the landscape.

Craig Stafford, University of Liverpool, BBC History Magazine