Lifestyle Report: Heroes
The lifestyle survey asked licensees to pick a few of their favourite things.
Favourite Film
That a film depicting a merciless life behind bars deprived of all hope and a desperate need to escape is a publican's favourite film hardly paints a pretty picture for the industry.
The Shawshank Redemption has top billing ahead of Mafia gangster classic The Godfather and the dark futuristic thriller Bladerunner - licensees like their films serious.
Thankfully, things get a bit more light hearted with the arrival of Some Like It Hot in fourth place but then it's back to the melancholy with Schindler's List. Star Wars, Goodfellas and Pulp Fiction are also popular.
It's good to see that It's a Wonderful Life creeps in with four per cent of the votes as it has the best bartender's quote in cinema history: "Hey look, mister - we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast, and we don't need any characters around to give the joint 'atmosphere'. Is that clear, or do I have to slip you my left for a convincer?"
Favourite British Pop Artists
A Hard Day's Night Behind the Bar, Magical Mystery Pour, Lucy in the Sky with Diamond White, She Loves Brew, would all be there.
Yes, if licensees had their way, it'd be The Beatles on the jukebox more than any other British pop artist. It's a case of "they don't make them like they used to", with Queen, the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart making up the top four ahead of the new kid on the block (or was it Take That?) Robbie Williams.
David Bowie is another starman for the barman, while Cliff Richard and George Michael bring up the rear.
Favourite British Sporting Hero
Not content with his oarsome and unsurpassed haul of five Olympic gold medals, Steve Redgrave can now add the title of publicans' favourite sporting hero to his list of gongs.
With more than a third of the votes, the British rower has crossed the finishing line ahead of the record-breaking runner Paula Radcliffe and David Beckham, whose balls are bronze, not golden, in this instance.
Former world heavyweight champion boxer Lennox Lewis received nearly a quarter of all votes - licensees obviously like the fact that he always gets his rounds in - ahead of Formula One driver Damon Hill and spiritual sandpit skipper Jonathan Edwards.
Beckham's England team mate Michael Owen is the only other footballer to make the grade with 15 per cent of the votes, with Linford Christie not far behind.
Greg Rusedski received only four per cent of the votes but it was more than Tim Henman got. Perhaps Tim's too posh for licensees.
Greatest Sporting Occasion
It is the moment that Martin Johnson, and not Bobby Moore, lifted the trophy for England to become world champions that has been chosen by licensees as the greatest ever sporting occasion.
Despite the fact that it is only publicans in their late 40s who can possibly remember it, England's World Cup triumph in 1966 is a clear second to last year's Rugby World Cup triumph. A more recent win over Germany, 5-1 in 2001, is fourth behind Steve Redgrave's record breaking fifth Olympic gold medal - perhaps the only time pub-goers watched rowing on a Friday night.
Boxing is represented by the Ali v Foreman Rumble in the Jungle, while Torville and Dean's Bolero dance makes the top six.
Greatest Briton
That Winston Churchill, the wartime prime minister who once said "I smoke and drink - and I am two hundred per cent fit" is closest to the hearts of licensees is no surprise.
Less predictably, when asked to pick their Greatest Britain in the Coors-sponsored survey, it was Isambard Kingdom Brunel, an engineer with a penchant for big hats, who pipped Diana, Queen of Hearts, for second place.
Charles Darwin can hardly complain about being jostled out of fourth position by William Shakespeare - survival of the fittest and all that.
Other Britons to earn the "great" moniker include Isaac Newton, Horatio Nelson and Elizabeth I, the original Ginger spice.
Favourite Actor
Shurely shome mishtake. Scottish sex symbol Sean Connery is top of the bill of favourite actors by some distance with more than a quarter of all licensees voting for the James Bond star.
Anthony Hopkins, second with 17 per cent, would be welcome to pop in to the local for some chianti, liver and fava beans, while Michael Caine is third - not a lot of people know that.
The fourth is with Alec Guinness and stuttering toff Hugh Grant just pips Robert Carlyle to fifth - perhaps his role as Begby in Trainspotting when he indiscriminately threw glasses across the pub worked against him.
Favourite TV Soap
More than half of licensees appear to have neither the time nor the inclination to sit down in front of the telly and watch soaps.
Of those polled, 53 per cent claim they never tune in to see what's happening in Albert Square, Ramsey Street or Rita's Kabin, but then again, it's not something people often own up to.
For those that do, it is the Rovers Return rather than the Queen Vic that pulls in the punters. Away from Coronation Street and EastEnders, Emmerdale takes third position ahead of Hollyoaks and Neighbours, each with two per cent of the votes.
Favourite Actress
It is, shall we say, the more mature woman who is leading the way in the list of licensees' best loved actresses.
Publicans have rubberstamped Julie Walters' status as a national treasure by voting the Billy Elliot star as their favourite actress ahead of Judie Dench and Helen Mirren.
Catherine Zeta Jones represents the new guard alongside Emma Thompson. Elizabeth Taylor received six per cent, almost one for each husband, while Maggie Smith and the late Margaret Rutherford also feature.
Favourite Sitcom
Only Fools and Horses, the programme that brought you cocktails made from Tia Maria and Lucozade and falling through open bar flaps, is far and away the licensees' favourite sitcom.
Del Boy and Rodney's antics are preferred ahead of the calamitous high jinks at Fawlty Towers which is, true to form, second best. Other time-honoured comedy classics such as Blackadder, Yes Minister and Dad's Army make up the remainder of the list, while the presence of Open All Hours is particularly p-p-p-p-p-p-p-ertinent in light of the new licensing laws.
Most like to have dinner with
Tiny Aussie songstress Kylie Minogue has topped another chart - she's the person most licensees want to have dinner with.
Twenty-six per cent of publicans chose the petite singer as their ideal dinner guest. She was the only pop star to make the top 10, narrowly beating former prime minister Margaret Thatcher who was chosen by 22 per cent.
Presumably conversation wouldn't be difficult with the Iron Lady who is famous for her strident voice and strong opinions.
Rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson came in third. Twenty-one per cent of licensees are eager to hear the details of that kick while 12 per cent want to meet England captain David Beckham and offer him their opinions of the team's defensive woes.
Ladies' favourite Brad Pitt was the choice of 11 per cent of licensees. The same number chose prime minister Tony Blair, who also turned up as the man least likely to be on anyone's guest list.
Scouse queen of the jungle Kerry McFadden was the cho
