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Virtual Pub Crawl

Fancy a swift half? This round of Britain's drinking establishments is on us.

From city boozer to country inn, the public house has always been about more than beer and crisps. A place of friendship, festivity and (hopefully occasional) excess, the local pub is at the centre of many communities. Though the smoky fug has lifted in the modern bar, these films show that the qualities of a good night out are timeless.

If a trip to your local isn't an option, our virtual pub crawl will help recapture that uniquely clammy embrace of noise, crowds and smells that welcome the visitor on entry. Eavesdrop on the colourful nonsense of the characters propping up the bar, spectate on the local grudge matches at skittles or darts, and witness the resident entertainer prove that when it comes to performance, passion is a great substitute for polish. Please watch responsibly.

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Victorian Pub Victorian Pub

News 1974 6 mins Location: Aston

Music hall ghosts haunt the Bartons Arms pub in Birmingham; a temple to drink and a rare survivor in a city that has destroyed much of its Victorian architecture.

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Bellamy on Beer Bellamy on Beer

Promotional 1982 9 mins Location: Hartlepool

David Bellamy puts his head into hops, then into a fermenting tank, watches it mash into wort and has a pint – all grist to our engaging presenter.

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Teenage Mocktailers Teenage Mocktailers

Current affairs 1980 2 mins Location: Burnham-on-Sea

A non-alcohol-serving pub offers somewhere to go and something to do for teenagers in Burnham-on-Sea.

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Mild & Bitter: Portsmouth & Plymouth Mild & Bitter: Portsmouth & Plymouth

Amateur film 1963 15 mins Silent Location: Plymouth

A polemical film where two men in a pub compare and contrast the post-war resurrection of both Portsmouth and Plymouth after their pummelling by the Luftwaffe.

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Tour of the Inns Tour of the Inns

Amateur film 1938 6 mins Silent Location: Newark

Join this pub crawl and tread in the ghostly footsteps of innkeepers, smugglers, authors and bargemen of old.

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Pub Donkey Pub Donkey

News 1975 4 mins Location: Gotherington

Jim is a particularly obstinate customer at the Shutter Inn at Gotherington, drinking five gallons a day from a bucket - he doesn't even pay!

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Beer-drinking Billy Beer-drinking Billy

Current affairs 1967 1 mins Location: Frithelstock

Beer Billy

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Crooked House Crooked House

News 1975 4 mins Location: Himley

The Staffordshire pub where the beer bottles roll uphill and the landlord claims, "You come in drunk and go out sober".

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Pub Closing Pub Closing

News 1961 3 mins Location: Lyonshall

"Try and separate a country man from his beer and you're asking for trouble." A stark warning from Lyonshall in Herefordshire.

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Haunted Pub Haunted Pub

News 1972 7 mins Location: Newton Burgoland

Will the 'cold, clammy hands' of Five to Four Fred, Newton Burgoland's celebrated ghost, send shivers down Denise's spine?

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Asian Pub Landlord Asian Pub Landlord

News 1968 2 mins Location: Newbridge

Mr Dhanjal from Wolverhampton: custodian of one of the most vital positions in any community.

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Motorway Pub Motorway Pub

News 1975 6 mins Location: Trowell

Another Campari for the road, sir? Non-alcoholic of course!

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Award-winning Salcombe bartender Award-winning Salcombe bartender

Current affairs 1975 5 mins Location: Salcombe

Hippy Hippy Shakes - Award-winning cocktail waiter in Salcombe

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Life and Music of Black Anna Life and Music of Black Anna

News 1973 10 mins Location: Norwich

Well and truly steering the helm at The Jolly Butchers pub in Ber Street, Norwich is Antoinette Hannent better known as 'Black Anna'.

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Mug House Pub Mug House Pub

News 1959 2 mins Silent Location: Claines

The perfect spot for an ecclesiastical drop of sherry: the Mug House pub next door to the church at Claines.

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Pub Games Pub Games

Current affairs 1970 1 mins Silent Location: Plymouth

Beer and Bangers are almost a recipe for disaster in this English Pub

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Heritage Over The Wensum Heritage Over The Wensum

Factual TV 1975 25 mins Location: Norwich

The Twitchells represent a new generation. Living in the very centre of Norwich, they enjoy the benefits of a pub, markets, and an underground jazz club right on their doorstep.

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Pub Entertainers (Fun Palace outtakes) Pub Entertainers (Fun Palace outtakes)

Amateur film 1963 3 mins Silent Location: London

A drag act sings in a pub while a Pearly King watches in this short film shot in a London pub in 1963.

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Pub Skittles Pub Skittles

News 1961 5 mins Location: Winchcombe

Far from the new-fangled 'chrome plated' American import of ten pin bowling this is Gloucestershire's traditional pub version of skittles.

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Pub Crawl Pub Crawl

Lifestyle show 1983 26 mins Location: York

Naturalist Michael Clegg indulges in the food, drink, and local legends of some of Yorkshire’s most famous public houses.

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Esperanto Pub Esperanto Pub

News 1974 4 mins Location: Smallthorne

Care for a drinko at La Verda Stelo? If so you might need a phrasebook as it's Britain's only Esperanto pub.

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Pub Crawl Record Attempt Pub Crawl Record Attempt

News 1972 6 mins Location: Swadlincote

Darrell Jones is trying to elevate the pub crawl to a competitive sport. Well, at least he's wearing his track suit!

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Whitbread Trophy 'shakespeare' 'a' Whitbread Trophy 'shakespeare' 'a'

Advert 1978 1 mins Silent

A pint of Whitbread Trophy makes the actor Brian Glover wax lyrical about its Shakespearean properties.

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Guinness - Young Barmaid Guinness - Young Barmaid

Advert 1972 1 mins

A lesson in pouring technique for the bottled buyer.

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Cyril Visits Lesney Farm Allotment and Pubs in Erith Cyril Visits Lesney Farm Allotment and Pubs in Erith

Amateur film 1982 2 mins Silent Location: Erith

Two classic masculine pastimes from the 1970s - allotments and pubs.

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The Pub with No Name The Pub with No Name

Current affairs 1964 5 mins Location: Somerset

The pub with an open door policy

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Old London Old London

Non-Fiction 1914 6 mins Silent Location: Westminster

A revealing tour of London's notable buildings - some now lost for ever - which uncovers their intriguing histories.

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The Pub with no beer The Pub with no beer

News 1980 5 mins Location: Armagh

How can opening a pub help you resist the temptation of a drink? Meet the Armagh Pioneers to find your answer.

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Beer House Beer House

News 1980 2 mins Location: Twyning

Beer and cider by the back door. Twyning in Gloucestershire says goodbye to the last of the village beer houses.

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Snails at The Miners Arms in Winscombe Snails at The Miners Arms in Winscombe

Current affairs 9 mins Location: Winscombe

A slow reception for edible snails at the Miners Arms

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How beer is brewed in East Anglia How beer is brewed in East Anglia

News 1963 13 mins Location: Southwold

It's flat caps and fags in 60s Southwold as Bob Wellings natters with the natives to find out the secret of a good pint.

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Joules beer Joules beer

News 1971 4 mins Location: Stone

What will the 'working man' of Stone do when their beloved Joules ale is replaced by inferior keg beers?

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Cinque Ports of Britain Cinque Ports of Britain

Amateur film 1959 44 mins Silent Location: Folkestone

An amateur travelogue featuring the Cinque Ports of Kent and Sussex featuring castles, shipping, dainty Tudor streets, a cathedral and a ride on a miniature railway.

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Guinness - Cycle Race (Version 1) Guinness - Cycle Race (Version 1)

Advert 1963 1 mins

Ah, those were the days when competitive racing and a pint of stout went hand-in-hand.

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Guinness - Ploughman Guinness - Ploughman

Advert 1977 1 mins

A Guinness advert emphasising its virtues as an accompaniment to a traditional ploughman’s lunch.

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What We Want Is Watney's What We Want Is Watney's

Advert 1959 1 mins

A young Michael Caine bursts on to the scene as a cheeky soldier in this delightful advert for Watney's beer.

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In One End In One End

Documentary 1977 28 mins Location: Southwold

Real ale and folk music in the pub – performed by Fairport Convention – are celebrated in this portrait of Southwold on the Suffolk coast and the work of the Adnams brewery.

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