>>I mean that a single gin & tonic will cost in the region of £3.50-£4.50 <<

But at current exchange rates that really isn't at all 'expensive' to an American visitor. If one wants a G&T absolutely no reason not to order one.

Cider is generally made from apples (special varieties known as cider apples), however, cider can also be made from pears, this is generally sweeter than apple cider, but very refreshing. Again there are several varieties.Rember some ciders are still, generally those which are 'on draught', and fizzy ciders are generally bottled.

A bit of fun, ask "has the major been in?" there is some statistic that for 3/5 of pubs he has and 2/5 he is in.>>

lol, bilbo. Though round here the equivalent is 'is Denzil in yet?"

"however, cider can also be made from pears"

Officially known as a Perry.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry

I am grinning at the studenty recollections of snakebite and Pernod and black.

I haven't been able to stomach the thought of Pernod and black since the aftermath of a student night promotion in 1985.

Guinness and black is another interesting combination. Makes a lovely pink froth.

Another lovely but treacherous drink I (dimly) recall from my days in England was Whiskey Mac; a mixture of whiskey and ginger wine. A very warming libation to which I was introduced at my first Rugby match. I do not remember how the game ended nor, indeed, how they got me home.

I can also attest to the lethal potential of Scrumpy. First introduced to it by fellows in Guernsey who had a gallon jug of the stuff they were willing to share (long story). After my thirtieth slug of the stuff someone must have slipped me a mickey. The next morning death was the preferred alternative to getting out of bed.

Just remembered guiness and cider, tricky to pour but very relaxing

talking about scrumpy, in my student days I used to frequent a famous [or possibly infamous] drinking hole in Bristol known as the Coronation Tap. in those days there were three drinks available : dry, sweet and mix.

When I was working in Bristol a few years ago I went back to have a look but it's changed out of all recognition - they sell at least 6 sorts of cider now.

Wow, so much great info! Can't wait to get there and try some of the suggestions. Thanks!

Ditto bilbo and sparkchaser's posts. Cask ale is absolutely divine and is not anything like beer. Try it!!

Isn't 'soda water' (at least in the US) considered to be fizzy water, also called sparkling water? That's what you will get in the states when you order 'soda water'. If you want a soft drink such as Pepsi, Coke, etc. you just ask for 'soda.'

Almost right, Nanabee. It takes a really old codger like me to give the whole story on that. Way back when, "Soda Fountains" served ice cream and drinks. They had a "fountain" that dispensed carbonated water. One would ask the "soda jerk" for a soda, or a soda water, and he would say, "What kind?". He would then pump a squirt of choice of flavored syrup into a glass, over ice, and then fill the glass with soda water, stir, insert a straw, and serve. You could choose cherry, strawberry, root beer and, later, coca cola, etc.

Now, everything comes pre mixed, and one just asks for a Coke, or Pepsi.

Nukesafe brings back fond memories of the soda fountain in the corner drugstore of my home town, a favourite high school hangout back in the 50s. Then (and now) no one ever asked for just a "soda", because the waiter wouldn't know what flavour (or brand) you wanted. Back then you may have asked for a strawberry soda, and today you might ask for a Coke.

I still struggle with the idea that anyone with a taste bud wants to put coke in their mouth, but hey different strokes..

We encountered an old fashioned drug store in New York State in the late 6os Canon Chasuble wanted something or other and was told that it was just behind the fountain.
"Fountain?" I had to translate for him.
I'm willing to bet that those old style sodas were much better for you than cokes. They were probably less crammed with sugar. The teenagers sitting up to that fountain probably walked to it too. When we were living in the U.S. , I only remember knowing one fat woman and she wasn't grossly obese,

What happened since then? Fast food outlets? The obesity problem is increasing in Europe too.

Our student bar had cider at 4d a glass. That's old money It was so rough that you could have removed rust with it.
In pubs, I often order bitter shandy. I prefer it to the kind made from lager.
In my youth, lager and lime was popular with girls and old ladies would drink port and lemon.
I've never had it, but I'm old enough to order it. I wonder what the barman would say

I once accompanied a friend to a pub on Mill Road in Cambridge run by CAMRA, which as I recall had 16 draught beers from which to choose. To my extreme embarrassment, my friend ordered a lager and lime! :-))

<i>What happened since then?</i>

High fructose corm syrup, people eating more and more processed foods, and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle would be my guess.

I cannot wait for my next trip to England. Mmmmm....real ale.