Book Review: "THE PUBS OF HEREFORD CITY"

"The Pubs of Hereford City" by Ron Shoesmith and John Eisel.

This is a fascinating read for anyone who has an interest in the history of pubs in Hereford. There is a danger that a book like this could easily descend into a list of pubs, landlords and dates; however, the authors incorporate an interesting narrative throughout, and the stories of each and every pub is well researched and presented.
This is the third fully revised edition of this book, and as a result there are plenty of photographs and illustrations throughout- although they are all in black and white. Having been published in 2004, certain areas of the book are slightly out of date now, but this does not detract from the overall quality of the book.
Starting in Roman Times the first chapter gives a summary of the expansion of the market town and the associated alehouses, taverns and Inns. Chapter two then details the history of brewing and breweries in the city. The remaining 15 chapters each take a section of the city and describe the changes that have taken place up to recent times.
This book is thoroughly interesting and useful read, and I recommend it to anyone who believes that there is more to a pub than just drinking.