Eli's 'Pint Points' System

Living in the United Kingdom comes with the novelty of pubs on every corner—or just about. Pubs are a fact of life here, and quite frankly, I think I'm on a mission to try out as many of them as possible.

They are old and worn and eclectic, with mismatched plates and chairs testifying to their legacy. Despite fresh paint and regular upkeep, pubs never seem to lose their rustic charm. They are inviting and cozy, a great place to just sit and enjoy a pint of ale with your mates.

You can say there are three types of pubs:

• Public houses: which tend to be "tied" to a specific brewery or chain, limiting the beers and ales available to serve to patrons.
• Free houses: these pubs get to choose what they serve and when. People say free houses offer a more interesting selection.
• Commercial chains: groups such as JD Wetherspoon, Mitchell & Butler, The Slug & Lettuce, etc. that have many pubs under their banner, spread out across the United Kingdom.

However, a word of caution. Not all pubs are created equal. Prices, service, quality, and ambiance all vary. Some places are so popular, you absolutely have to reserve to ensure you'll have a place.

Since we like to have "family days out" and regularly try new pubs on these occasions, I've decided to create my own points system to review them for you. That way, you know exactly where I stand on the different pubs we've been to, and are able to get a better feeling of what to expect on your own visit.

That's how I will be reviewing each pub, with a maximum of two 'pints' per category. There is also a half-pint score, allowing for precision.

Top score is Six Pints, and lowest score—well, other than 0—would be half a pint. Here are some examples:

Six Pints, top marks.

Three and a half pints, just above average.

Half a pint, lowest rated score.