What Is the Difference between Pub and Bar?

Many young people find nightlife super exciting due to different entertainment establishments. Pubs and bars are examples of entertainment places that attract the young crowds.

So, what is the difference between a pub and a bar? A pub is a licensed establishment where alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages are served with food or snacks. On the other hand, a bar is an establishment concentrated on alcoholic drinks.

These places create an ideal environment for people to have fun and hang out with their friends or partners. But many people find it challenging to tell the difference between a bar and a pub. Let us find that out together in this article.

Difference between Pub and Bar with Table

Parameters Pub Bar
Definition It is an entertainment place for people to hang out, drink, and eat It is a place that serves alcoholic drinks for home consumption.
Owner Brewery, landlord, or publican Privately owned or manager.
Clientele Mature Young
Servers Varieties of drinks and unlimited food options. Drink varieties and limited food options.
Music Type Soft Loud
Location Small places Cities
Age Limit No age restriction At least 18years
Closing Time 11 PM at night 2 AM
Cocktails Don’t serve cocktails Serve cocktails
Types Strip pubs, Goth pubs, Rock pubs, and Biker pubs College bar, women’s bar, cop bar, gay bar, biker bar, and sports bar.

What Is a Pub?

A pub is an entertainment establishment where people can buy and consume alcoholic or soft drinks. The place offers a wide range of alcoholic beverages like wine, beer, and spirit.

The pub does not offer cocktails to its clientele. But they also serve foods such as salad, dessert, soup, and appetizers. A pub grub is the type of food served in these entertainment places.

The word pub was derived from the Public House to sell alcohol to the public. These places also create an ideal environment for community meetings. Pubs are famous in the UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Canada.

Typical examples of Pubs are roadhouses, theme, and country pubs. These entertainment places serve alcohol despite having no age limit restrictions. But the minors are not served alcoholic drinks.

What Is a Bar?

A bar is a licensed business establishment that sells alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The place also sells snacks to its clientele consume within the premises.

Examples of alcoholic beverages are beer, wine, spirit, cocktails, and liquor. On the other hand, non-alcoholic beverages are mineral water, 7UP, club soda, and many other soft drinks.

The bar has a limited food menu that consists of snacks and appetizers. The word bar was derived from a counter where the bartender serves the drink. They form part of larger entertainment establishments.

Bars have age restrictions since alcoholic drinks are the main commodities. Young people of at least 18 years are served these alcoholic beverages. The music is super loud for dancing.

Main Difference between Pub and Bar

  1. A bar is a word frequently used in the United States and other western countries. On the other hand, a pub is an abbreviation for public houses in Britain and other British influence countries.
  2. A pub is a dining place that serves wine and other alcoholic beverages to customers. A bar is an establishment that serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
  3. Pubs have a more relaxed environment, whereas bars have a noisy environment due to loud music.
  4. Pubs have unlimited food and drinks menu, while bars serve numerous alcoholic beverages and limited food options.
  5. Pubs were once gathering places in small villages, while bars are gathering places in cities.
  6. Pubs do not have age restrictions, while bars have age restrictions for their clientele.
  7. Bars serve cocktails to their customers, whereas pubs do not serve cocktails.
  8. Pubs sell proper meals along with snacks and appetizers. On the other hand, bars sell more appetizers and snacks.
  9. Pubs are owned by landlords or publicans, while bars are run by bar managers.
  10. Pubs operate up to midnight, while bars can run overnight.

Similarities between Pub and Bar

  1. Have similar serving areas.
  2. Open once the locals retire from their working hours.
  3. Both require a license from a local authority body.
  4. Both serve a wide range of drinks.

Conclusion

So, what is the difference between pub and bar? The former serve more filling meals and beverages, while the latter serve snacks and appetizers.

Bars have a limited menu comprising of snacks and appetizers. The entertainment establishment is known for serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages only.

Pubs have unlimited menus consisting of proper meals and a wide range of beverages. It does not have an age restriction as seen in bars.

Both establishments require a license for operation. Besides that, they are crowded during the Weekends and late in the evening after people retire from their work.

I hope this article helped you understand the difference between a bar and a pub. Feel free to share your views and suggestions in the comment section.

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