A Year Behind Bars: The Publicans Tale

The Great British Pub is the envy of the world. Who is not fascinated by all those characterful inns, coach houses and hostelries with centuries of history, quaint customs and even quainter customers? Where else in the world would you be served a foaming pint of Old ‘n’ Filthy and a delicious Ploughman’s Lunch by a voluptuous barmaid? Where else would you have to fight the Ploughman when he wants his lunch back?

A Year Behind Bars is the story of how eccentric Englishman George East fulfilled a drinking lifetime’s ambition and bought his own public house. His ambition was to create the world’s most perfect pub…but things did not turn out quite as planned.

Arriving at the notorious Ship Leopard in the historic Naval city of Portsmouth, our hero set about learning the tricks of the trade and surviving his first year behind bars.

This diary of a memorable year is a must for anyone who wants to know what the Great British Pub is really like... and just why the English are the most eccentric race in the whole, wide world.

A Year Behind Bars is also crammed with hilarious cartoons and fascinating facts about the sometimes bizarre customs and traditions associated with British pubs and drinking habits.

George East has had a wide and varied career, which includes being a publican, pickled onion manufacturer, private detective, TV and radio presenter...and the world’s only professional bed tester. He is the author of numerous books about his colourful life and the weird people and situations he has encountered around the world.