The pub has been the heart & soul of British life for generations. But how has this unique institution changed over the centuries? Paul Jennings traces the history of the British pub & looks at how it evolved from the coaching inn & humble alehouse, through back-street beer houses & `fine, flaring` gin palaces to the drinking establishments of the twenty-first century. Covering all aspects of pub life, this fascinating history examines pubs in town & country. It identifies keys trends & discusses architecture & interior design. It looks at customers & their varied activities in pubs & at the men & women who ran them. The story of the pub is set throughout in the wider context of social change. ” The Local” is a must-read for the pub-goer & anyone interested in the history of the English people.