It was the ancient Sumerians who originated the social custom of gathering in a tavern to drink their beer and wine. The tavern keeper was usually a woman, females having a higher social status there than in other current civilizations.
Taverns called "stabularia" were used for food and accommodation by travelers in the Roman Empire, but no upwardly mobile Roman or his beast would be seen in them. However at night time on the quiet side streets of Rome, men of all ranks could be spotted sneaking into alternative taverns called "lupanar" to dine, drink, and gamble.
The Romans had been building roads connecting the major towns and cities since their arrival in Britain. One consequence of this was the appearance of the first British taverns, in which the weary traveler could obtain refreshment. These tabernae where food was sold and wine was drunk, was open to Romans only, not the native population.
In 8th century England, taverns had become so popular the Archbishop of York was forced to forbid priests to eat and drink in them. Instead monks went into the brewing business themselves and set up hostelries for pilgrims.
To cut down time spent travelling to buy food and drink, Italian architect Filippo Brunelleschi (1377 – April 15, 1446) setup a tavern for his builders on the construction site.
By the late 15th century there was a tavern or ale house for every 150 inhabitants of Britain.
In Britain an act was passed in 1496 against "vacabounds and beggers", which contained a clause regulating alehouses. The different types of drinking establishments was strictly annotated. An ale house could sell only beer, while a tavern had to serve food as well as drink.
For centuries the English tavern had provided food and drink for travellers. By the mid 16th century, due to the development of providing a daily meal at a fixed time townsmen of all but the lowest classes were utilizing their facilities for dining out. Most taverns offer a good dinner for one shilling (about 7 cents) or less, with wine and ales as extras.
After Dutch settlers started settling in North America, public drinking places started springing up. In Boston, the first tavern to be granted a license to sell wine and liquor by the Massachusetts Bay Colony's General Court started business on March 4, 1634. Ran by Samuel Cole it was called Cole's Inn. It was referenced by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his play John Endicott set in the 1660s as the Three Mariners.
Over time, the words "tavern" and "inn" became interchangeable and synonymous. In England, inns started to be referred to as public houses or pubs and by the 19th century the word "tavern" had begun to be seen as old fashioned. However, taverns remain a popular part of fantasy stories and games. The term is still commonly used in the United States.
Source Food For Thought by Ed Pearce
Taverns called "stabularia" were used for food and accommodation by travelers in the Roman Empire, but no upwardly mobile Roman or his beast would be seen in them. However at night time on the quiet side streets of Rome, men of all ranks could be spotted sneaking into alternative taverns called "lupanar" to dine, drink, and gamble.
The Romans had been building roads connecting the major towns and cities since their arrival in Britain. One consequence of this was the appearance of the first British taverns, in which the weary traveler could obtain refreshment. These tabernae where food was sold and wine was drunk, was open to Romans only, not the native population.
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| Pompeii: Taberna of Iunianus (I.6.12). By Mentnafunangann - Own work, |
In 8th century England, taverns had become so popular the Archbishop of York was forced to forbid priests to eat and drink in them. Instead monks went into the brewing business themselves and set up hostelries for pilgrims.
To cut down time spent travelling to buy food and drink, Italian architect Filippo Brunelleschi (1377 – April 15, 1446) setup a tavern for his builders on the construction site.
 |
| Tavern Scene by Flemish artist David Teniers c. 1658 |
By the late 15th century there was a tavern or ale house for every 150 inhabitants of Britain.
In Britain an act was passed in 1496 against "vacabounds and beggers", which contained a clause regulating alehouses. The different types of drinking establishments was strictly annotated. An ale house could sell only beer, while a tavern had to serve food as well as drink.
For centuries the English tavern had provided food and drink for travellers. By the mid 16th century, due to the development of providing a daily meal at a fixed time townsmen of all but the lowest classes were utilizing their facilities for dining out. Most taverns offer a good dinner for one shilling (about 7 cents) or less, with wine and ales as extras.
After Dutch settlers started settling in North America, public drinking places started springing up. In Boston, the first tavern to be granted a license to sell wine and liquor by the Massachusetts Bay Colony's General Court started business on March 4, 1634. Ran by Samuel Cole it was called Cole's Inn. It was referenced by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his play John Endicott set in the 1660s as the Three Mariners.
Over time, the words "tavern" and "inn" became interchangeable and synonymous. In England, inns started to be referred to as public houses or pubs and by the 19th century the word "tavern" had begun to be seen as old fashioned. However, taverns remain a popular part of fantasy stories and games. The term is still commonly used in the United States.
Source Food For Thought by Ed Pearce
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