So what constitutes a decent pub? I mean, there are pubs all over the world aren't there? I have heard people say that Aussie pubs cannot rival a British pub and I suppose there could be something in that. So what makes a good British Pub? It's your 'local', it's the place where you walk in and everyone knows your name, cliche but true.

The regulars have their own seat, they will always sit there and heaven forbid that a newcomer should walk in and sit on old Bill's' seat. 'You can't sit there mate, Bill sits there' The barman would reply, the bar in silence waiting for the newcomer to move.

Newcomers are usually called 'mate' although the term is used loosely until they prove themselves as a 'regular'.

There is always the resident bar prop too. The one that the bar staff and management know and keep an eye on. 'Bert has had too much, call him a taxi' Bar staff will say. Because they know when he has gone from merry to blind drunk. They are quite amazing the staff of a local pub. They not only know when you have had quite enough to drink, but they also know when you are in need of one too.

'Hard day at work?' Bar staff will ask, and they just know it's a hard day at work too. They know when a man is trying to 'avoid the wife' for whatever reason and always provide the alibi for him. 'No Mrs Jones, he is not here', they say loyally as Mr Jones is propping up the bar lovingly nursing his pint of bitter.

You have your 'resident hero' in your local. That is the person that keeps an eye out for trouble makers. When someone usually a stranger, gets a bit wild and aggressive, 'resident here' will throw them out of the pub and always get a free pint.

Your local pub is really a 'home from home'. It is usually decorated in floral wallpaper, or that purple/wine colour and cream. With pattern printed chairs or red leather ones with gold studs going round the edge. There is a permanent smell of beer and cigarettes and the curtains are stained yellow.

It is the place where nervous young men will propose to their girlfriends, which is met by cheers and 'drinks on the house' from the landlord. It is the place where couples announce they are having a baby, and nine months later, this is celebrated by the regulars and Christening parties can follow suit. Your local pub sees many a birthday party, hen party, retirement party and plays a significant part in all life stages of various people.

My Grandad was a landlord and his old pub even sent the flowers in the shape of a pint glass to his funeral when he died.
It shares in the emotions of everyone and people will pull together in a way which is to be marveled. Collections, sponsorships, football matches to name a few, are things organised by your local. 

Whenever there is a big football match on TV such as the World Cup, you can bet your life the pub will turn into a nursery for men. Hardly any women will be there, and the blokes will huddle round the big screen, clutching their beers and scoffing pie and chips whilst the landlord 'looks after his punters' and gets in extra staff to cope. There is no sound quite like a heaving pub when a goal is scored. They may shout at the screen and wave their fist in the air for a missed penalty, but their landlord knows them and doesn't fear the noise.

It's the place that some people use for company if they live on their own. It's the first port of call after work when they sit in 'their chair/bar stool' and they have 'their favourite drink'.

So at what point does a newcomer become a regular? You know when you have become a regular when you walk up to the bar and the barman knows your name and has your drink waiting for you. 'Mate' is replaced by your name and if you're really lucky, someone moves off the stool/chair to let you sit there, because they have noticed that you always sit there even if you haven't yourself.

Yes, they can build pubs the way they do in the UK and put them in every country in the world. But there is really something quite magical about our pubs that I believe cannot be replicated. And I for one when I move to Australia, will miss it dearly.

Here's to the Great British Pub.