The Food Served in Pubs (Source – Wikipedia)
Some pubs have a long tradition of serving food, dating back to their historic usage as inns and hotels where travelers would stay. Many pubs were drinking establishments, and little emphasis was placed on the serving of food, other than sandwiches and “bar snacks”, such as pork scratchings, pickled eggs, salted crisps and peanuts which helped to increase beer sales. In South East England (especially London) it was common until recent times for vendors selling cockles, whelks, mussels, and other shellfish to sell to customers during the evening and at closing time. Many mobile shellfish stalls would set up near pubs, a practice that continues in London’s East End. Otherwise, pickled cockles and mussels may be offered by the pub in jars or packets.
In the 1950s some British pubs would offer “a pie and a pint”, with hot individual steak and ale pies made easily on the premises by the proprietor’s wife during the lunchtime opening hours. The ploughman’s lunch became popular in the late 1960s. In the late 1960s “chicken in a basket”, a portion of roast chicken with chips, served on a napkin, in a wicker basket became popular due to its convenience.
More recently, pubs and bars have been serving snacks (either free or pre-paid) for their customers. Nuts, potato chips, crackers and cookies are common.