Pubs & Taverns
Perhaps the most compelling evidence that shows why drinking was such an integral part of the people's leisure time in eighteenth-century England lies in the fact that pubs and taverns served as both a meeting place and recreation center. While housing was commonly cold and cramped, the pub provided warmth and company as well as drink. The pub was a place where both traditional pastimes were carried out and new activities grew. Furthermore, the pub wasn't merely a meeting place to drink amongst friends as some of the most attractive ones served as cultural centers as well. Amongst the many roles that the pub served were as a library, music hall, and playhouse. There was even lodging in certain pubs, which were designated as inns. Indeed, the pub played such an important role in the social lives of the people of England that they were given a reason to drink simply because it was so easily available (47).