as much as i am enjoying our new flat and new neighbourhood, there is one thing, however, which it is noticably lacking: a good local.

for my american readers:

i’ve written a little bit about the pub culture and etiquette before, but i’ve not yet explained the uniquely british icon which is “the local”. as you’ve no doubt seen in movies, the pub serves a very important function in the daily life of the british. it is a gathering point for much of the community, a place to meet friends and neighbours, a hub of information, and a ritualised social club. the neighbourhood pub (or “local”) is most often frequented by the same people day after day, who build bonds over pints, develop unique personalities and become well-known and respected patrons of the establishment. people often frequent “the local” several times a week, as a matter of habit – but it’s important to point out that this is usually less about the drinking, and more about the interaction. in many ways, a good local is much like “cheers” on t.v. – where everyody knows your name, and the beer is secondary to the comraderie. people often while away many hours at a time, nursing pints, gossiping, sharing a laugh, and generally hanging out. and this time is also an investment – there’s a definite proprietary feel towards a good local, a sense of ownership that the regulars foster. because it is, after all, *the people* that make a good local. in many ways, a local is a clique – like gravitating towards like. it’s a community relationship, and when it works well, it is a lovely thing to belong to.

and there are many different types of locals. posh locals with cream and oak tones, fancy food (duck and scallion pancakes anyone?) and pinstriped businessmen. old man locals with dim lighting, dark panelling, worn carpets, a thick blue smoke curtain, and a down-at-the-heels air. hard drinker locals with burly publicans, rough customers, cheap lagers, and lots of fruit machines. quirky locals with funky music, young bartenders, offbeat beers on tap, and loungey furnishings. and if you’re lucky enough to have more than one in your immediate area, you can take your pick. find something that feels right. much like your bookshelf or movie collection, where you choose to drink says a lot about who you are – so you want to choose something that reflects your taste, your attitude. a place where you feel you fit in.

the locals at my last two flats have been of the quirky kind, and that really suits me because i’m kind of quirky myself. a relaxed vibe, sofas, good music and a decent beer puts me in the right frame of mind – comfort is key when you want to gather with friends, or need to unwind. our last local was called “hoochie mamas” – a tiny little hole in the wall that played rock and reggae, served giant pizzas, and had hoegaarden, guinness and san miguel on tap. we loved it – spent many a birthday, new years, and friday night there. and even though it’s still only a 15 min walk away from our new place, it’s just a little too far to be our local anymore. we will miss it.

and sadly, the local pickings around our new place are pretty slim. there’s “the wheatsheaf” across the road, which leans toward the “hard drinkers” side. there’s “the rose and crown” towards tooting bec common, which is definitely an “old man” place. as is “the kings head” on upper tooting road. there’s “smoke”, a posh bar/diner at the corner of our street which tries too hard to be trendy to be comfortable. and that’s really about it in the immediate area. the other decent options (”the hope” on wandsworth common, the nicer pubs at balham high road) are all still a 10 min walk. which doesn’t seem that far – until you have to make your way home after a few too many. a local should ideally be a place you can easily stumble back from.

so all this is to say that i’m not sure where we’ll end up making our “other home” at yet. but given the amount of time we’re likely to spend there, it’s an important decision that shouldn’t be rushed.

just ask “norm”.

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british culture, pub culture