Question (Q). What is the best way to search this site?
Answer (A). Well, I recommend using the search engines. Both the Freefind & Google searches operate differently. I tend to use Freefind most of the time and ignore using common terms; e.g. if I am searching for 564 Oxford Street, I just use 564 Oxford as the search. Google is more absolute, and uses all of the words in the search. BUT - Google search appears to be case sensitive, which is a nuisance, and makes it less useful.
Q. Do you have any pictures of a Public House, Beer House or a particular area.
A. Well, if you can see a picture on the site, then I have one, else try this new page of Historical Archives, for other places to look, I do not have copyright to borrow their pictures.
Q. I am researching a Publican, and I cannot find the name of the Public House. My relative is listed as a Publican, how do I find out the name of his establishment?
A. The problem with Publicans listings are incurred because the Trade Directories do not list a Public House name. Often, this name may occur in a census, but requires considerable research into an area before this becomes apparent. This site is adding this information, slowly.
Q. How can I contribute to the site?
A. All photographs of any of the Public Houses listed are welcome. There is a page for every public house. If you can offer pictures, either old postcards, or modern day photos, it would be very welcome. Again, because of street renaming, if you have details relating to any Pub, and more accurate listings of Publicans and Victuallers, this is also welcome.
Q. What does the site cover?
A. The site covers all London, Essex, Suffolk, Sussex & Kent Public Houses - some are missing
Q. If you list a Pub, is this all the information available for this Pub?
A. No. I pick an area at random to update. I will often choose this from new material offered by others; and will concentrate on updating information for a specific Public House.
Q. Why do you not include ALL info for a Pub?
A. I don't have time. There are about 15,000 pubs on this site, with new material added every day, be patient. I also run several other historical web sites.
Q. What is the point of this site, then?
A. The most prominent features in any landscape are the churches and the Pubs. By using Public Houses as a means of describing an area, it is possible to describe the changes in an area, e.g the road name changes, Roads change their name, but there is often the same landlord at a specific Pub, whom just changes their address. This site recognises that an area, e.g. London can be mapped via its Pubs.
It's a bit of virtual Pub reality