Pubs enjoy bumper St George's Day
Pubs enjoyed a busy St George's Day on Friday as the sun shone and the crowds came out in force.
The Carriers Inn in Bude. Cornwall, went all out in celebration, transforming the Enterprise Inns pub with with more than 600 balloons and an "explosion" of red and white England flags.
Staff joined the fun by dressing up as Beefeaters, female musketeers and knights of the realm.
Traditional English meals were on the menu, such as steak and kidney pie and homemade "dragon burgers" and guests were entertained by local band the Whiskey Thieves.
Around 400 people visited the pub during the day, drinking more than 1,000 pints, half of which were real ale.
"When we celebrate St. Patrick's day all the locals said they would like to celebrate St. Georges day as well," said licensee Mike Goff. "So we decided to give something back to the community and went all out."
Goff is now planning to celebrate St David's, St Patrick's and St George's days every year, as well as St Piron's Day — the patron saint of Cornwall.
The Longbrook in Exeter, Devon, went a step further by painting a huge England flag on the pub and decorating the inside with bunting and more flags.
Manager Lars Lauridsen ordered two barrels of Wells and Young's English bitter Bombardier for the day. "It went really down really well with the customers," said Lauridsen, who has decided to keep it on.
The pub took a third more than a normal friday at around £3,000 and 399 people were served throughout the day.
The Grove Tavern in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, used the celebrations to raise around £1,000 for a local charity.
Licensee Steve Baxter offered customers roast beef and mustard rolls, cooked on a spit and more than 70 English cheeses to be washed down with Bombardier.
"It had a real English community pub feeling and generosity aplenty," said Baxter.
