
Happy Hours
A Great British Pub Diary
Mike Critchley(Author)
Scratching Shed Publishing Ltd
Published on 17. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-0681518-5-9 (ISBN)
Description
FOR more than 40 years Mike Critchley
has been on a journey through the
character-packed pubs of the British
Isles. From spit-and-sawdust backstreet
boozers through to majestic Victorian
drinking palaces, he has chronicled
every new visit in a little blue notebook
kept since he turned 18.
In Happy Hours, Mike recalls many
of the highlights - and a few low points - of that 'never-ending pub crawl' in a
book that charts significant changes to
the way we drink and world about us.
There is a pub for all seasons, with
potted histories of Britain's finest pub
buildings, observations of legendary
landlords and landladies, recollections
of colourful elbow-bending customers
and an appreciation of good beer.
Happy Hours weaves in many
personal anecdotes and aspects of
social history and is delivered with a
large dollop of northern humour. It is
laced with the wit and wisdom of many
of the folk Mike has had the crack with
in bar rooms over the past five decades.
At a time when we are losing pubs
hand over fist due to a multitude of
reasons, this book is a timely reminder
of the importance of these wonderful
institutions and community hubs, and
the role they play in society.
has been on a journey through the
character-packed pubs of the British
Isles. From spit-and-sawdust backstreet
boozers through to majestic Victorian
drinking palaces, he has chronicled
every new visit in a little blue notebook
kept since he turned 18.
In Happy Hours, Mike recalls many
of the highlights - and a few low points - of that 'never-ending pub crawl' in a
book that charts significant changes to
the way we drink and world about us.
There is a pub for all seasons, with
potted histories of Britain's finest pub
buildings, observations of legendary
landlords and landladies, recollections
of colourful elbow-bending customers
and an appreciation of good beer.
Happy Hours weaves in many
personal anecdotes and aspects of
social history and is delivered with a
large dollop of northern humour. It is
laced with the wit and wisdom of many
of the folk Mike has had the crack with
in bar rooms over the past five decades.
At a time when we are losing pubs
hand over fist due to a multitude of
reasons, this book is a timely reminder
of the importance of these wonderful
institutions and community hubs, and
the role they play in society.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Leeds
United Kingdom
Illustrations
Two 8pg colour sections
Dimensions
Height: 215 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
438 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-0681518-5-9 (9781068151859)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Mike Critchley has been a journalist on
the St Helens Star for the past 25 years,
having previously worked for Birmingham
MetroNews and the Birmingham Mail.
Happy Hours is Mike's fifth book, the four
prior ones about his beloved rugby league.
the St Helens Star for the past 25 years,
having previously worked for Birmingham
MetroNews and the Birmingham Mail.
Happy Hours is Mike's fifth book, the four
prior ones about his beloved rugby league.