What Is a Free House? A Guide to British Pubs for American Visitors

A "free house" is a British pub not tied by contract to a single brewery, meaning it can choose its own range of beers, ciders, and ales rather than being locked into one company's products. It's the opposite of a "tied house," which must sell a specific brewery's beer.

If you're planning a first trip to a proper British pub, a few terms and customs are worth knowing before you walk in.

What does "free house" mean?

It means the pub owns its own licence outright and isn't contractually obligated to sell one brewery's beer. Free houses can stock whatever they like — often a rotating, more locally rooted selection of ales and ciders — rather than being restricted to a single company's range the way a "tied" pub is.

Do I order and pay at the table, or at the bar?

At the bar, in almost every traditional British pub. Table service for drinks is uncommon outside of dedicated restaurants — you order at the bar, pay there, and carry your own drinks back to your table. Food is sometimes ordered at the bar too, so it's worth asking if you're not sure.

Do I need to tip?

Tipping isn't expected at the bar the way it is in American bars. Buying the bartender a drink ("and one for yourself") is a traditional gesture of thanks instead, though entirely optional. For table service in a pub restaurant, a modest tip (around 10%) is appreciated but rarely obligatory.

What's a "session," and what are typical pub hours?

British pubs generally have more flexible, longer opening hours than a strict "happy hour" model — many open around midday and stay open into the evening, sometimes with a shorter afternoon lull between lunch and evening trade at smaller pubs.

What should I actually order if I've never had a British ale?

Real ale is served closer to room temperature than American lager, with a fuller, less fizzy character. If you're unsure, ask the bar staff for a recommendation based on what you normally drink — most are happy to talk you through the options, and a small taster before committing to a full pint is usually fine to ask for.

Is a historic pub like a 17th-century inn different from a normal bar?

Genuinely, yes. A building with real history — original features, centuries of continuous use — offers something a modern bar simply can't replicate. Many of Cornwall's oldest pubs, including several genuine 17th-century free houses right on the coast, are as much a piece of living history as they are a place for a drink.