From Fish & Chips to Punk Rock: The Musical and Culinary Story of the English Pub

First published in FNL-Guide in October 2025

Few places in the world blend food and music as seamlessly as the English pub. From the cosy public houses of the Cotswolds to London’s legendary pubs, these spaces have long been a breeding ground where a pint of beer and a plate of fish and chips could ignite the next musical revolution.

The story of the English pub begins with the medieval alehouses, where local brewers served their own beer alongside simple, hearty fare. Traditional dishes such as the ploughman’s lunch, a cold meal of cheese, bread, pickled gherkins and onions, offered a quick and satisfying option for rural workers. By the 19th century, the now-iconic fish and chips had emerged as an affordable and filling staple for the working class.

Music was always part of the story. Traditional songs, sailors’ sea shanties, and local ballads formed the soundtrack of English pubs for centuries. The pub piano, often an old, battered instrument squeezed into a corner, invited anyone to play and sing along, turning an ordinary evening into a celebration. (It had little in common with the polished pianos of American saloons, which were played by professional musicians.)

The great musical revolution of the pubs began in the late 1950s, when young performers such as Lonnie Donegan transformed them into makeshift stages, playing lively tunes with guitars and double basses. In the 1960s, venues that weren’t technically pubs but shared their atmosphere took the connection between live music and food to new heights. The Marquee Club on Oxford Street, where bands like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Yardbirds first performed, served cheap beer and fried chicken, while The George Tavern in the East End has more recently hosted the Arctic Monkeys, Blur and Oasis.

In the 1970s, pub food became a staple of the punk scene, simple, cheap and filling fare that fuelled long nights of rebellion and revelry. Classic dishes like fish and chips, or the hearty pie and mash, were the perfect match for the energy of the era. Pub owners soon realised that music brought in crowds, and crowds meant consumption. Before long, many venues began offering free meals to bands, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem of mutual support. One venue worth a special mention is the Cart & Horses pub in Stratford, where Iron Maiden played almost every week between 1976 and 1978.

The 1980s and ’90s brought new waves of music, and pubs remained at the heart of the action. The Dublin Castle in Camden Town, famous for its steaks, became the home of indie rock, while The Water Rats hosted the early gigs of bands such as Oasis and Radiohead. The Britpop era forged a new relationship with pub food: classics like fish and chips and the Sunday roast (a personal favourite of the author) became cultural touchstones, celebrated in the lyrics of bands like Blur and Pulp.

Today, English pubs are experiencing a culinary renaissance that the punks of the ’70s could hardly have imagined. The gastropub movement, which began in the 1990s, transformed many traditional pubs into fine dining destinations, preserving their laid-back atmosphere while elevating the standard of their food to an entirely new level.

The Harwood Arms in Fulham earned its first Michelin star by serving venison from the Berkshire Downs and wild boar from Hampshire, all within a space that still feels unmistakably like a traditional pub. The Anchor & Hope in South London offers generous sharing plates inspired by Mediterranean flavours, all while maintaining its trademark no-reservations policy.

The craft beer revolution of recent years has given pubs fresh momentum. Breweries such as BrewDog have opened venues serving street food influenced by global cuisines, and it’s now common to find fish and chips sharing a menu with fried chicken and Mexican tacos. Many pubs have kept their musical spirit alive, some hosting DJs, others, like The Old Blue Last, continuing the live music tradition with up-and-coming bands, pairing classic British recipes with a contemporary twist to suit the mood of the times.

Today’s English pubs face the challenge of preserving their identity while continuing to evolve. Some have transformed into hybrid spaces that combine street food markets with live music, while others, like Ye Olde Mitre in Holborn, which serves traditional dishes in a building dating back to 1546, remain faithful to their roots.

The pandemic brought new challenges, but also new opportunities. Many pubs began offering takeaway meals, and during lockdowns, when hospitality venues were forced to close, several opened their doors to local bands, providing space for rehearsals and recordings.

Even as the decades race by, the magic that happens when good food and good music come together in one place remains unchanged. The story of the English pub is, ultimately, the story of a culture that understands some of life’s best moments happen when we share food and music with others, if only for one night.