"There is nothing that has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern," wrote Samuel Johnson. Three centuries on, the English pub remains the ultimate happy place for those seeking refuge, recreation, or refreshment. But pubs today constitute a broad church, with old-school saloons and ultimate locals joined by modern reimaginings of traditional hostelries and Michelin-starred gastro-temples.
This book brings together 33 of England's finest and most distinctive inns, from Yorkshire dining destinations to Cornish beer shrines. Acclaimed photographer Horst A Friedrichs and renowned writer Stuart Husband capture these places in all their idiosyncratic glory and infinite variety: the pub as artistic statement, social hub, foodie pilgrimage site, personal fiefdom of legendary landlords and landladies, or repository of history. But all pubs share the same time-honoured purpose: to offer the warmest of welcomes, and to lift the spirits.