The Hairy Bikers' Pubs That Built Britain

The Hairy Bikers' Pubs That Built Britain from Acorn TV is an engaging informational series from 2016. The show is anchored by the warm camaraderie and spontaneous humor of the Hairy Bikers - Dave Myers and Si King. Renowned for their passion for food and love for travel, the Hairy Bikers take on a distinctly British journey, exploring the rich history, distinctive culture, and scrumptious food associated with the pubs that have, quite impressively, helped shape Britain.

The series unfolds as a historical gastronomic odyssey that uncovers the deep linkages between Britain's multitude of pubs and its matured societal formation. These pubs, as we are made to understand, have been more than mere centres of boisterous conviviality and feasting. They have been convening points of conversation, debate, and decision-making, with their influences seeping into local economies, politics, sports, and even warfare.

Through their fun wanderings and infectious guys-next-door persona, the Hairy Bikers connect with the locals, sharing anecdotes, toasting drinks, and digging into mouth-watering dishes – the traditional love for food and ale emerges as an organically woven fabric of the narrative. It is not just about the food and ale; it is as much about the people who have been, metaphorically, fermenting, brewing, and serving them.

As much as it is a physical journey through the serpentine lanes leading to the unique women-and-men run British pubs, the series also constitutes an emotional dive into the human lives attached to these establishments. Throughout the series, the Hairy Bikers radiate their infectious enthusiasm for the stories these pubs have been silently curating - not just about historical events but also of people whose lives have ebbed and flowed around them.

The Hairy Bikers traverse through various regions each with their unique pubs and stories to offer. Each episode of the series is set in a different region. They spirally move through the length and breadth of Britain - from meeting brewers in Burton–upon-Trent, dubbed as 'the world's brewing capital', to exploring medieval alehouses in St Albans, to appreciating the coal-mined connections to pubs in Northumberland.

One of the not-to-be-missed spectacles in the series is the indefatigable camaraderie between Dave Myers and Si King. Their chemistry in and around the kitchen – experimenting with recipes, tasting, critiquing, consenting or commenting on each other's taste choices – lend a tangible vivacity to the series. Their evident joy and love for food and people, bolstered with their wit and understated humor, shape the narrative away from a mundane documentation to an experience– lively, relatable, and endearing.

Adding another layer to the show are the visually enchanting shots capturing vicinities' charming landscapes around these pubs. Serpentine lanes adorned with ancient brick houses with moss-covered rooftops, splendid views of a harbor dotted with sailboats, the spectacle of a beach leading into vast expanses of ocean - all these, and more, unfold beautifully, joining together as the poignant backdrop of Britain's pub culture.

The endearing exploration of Britain does not put up a romanticized spectacle; instead, it explores, appreciates, and scrutinizes the way in which the pubs have engaged with societal changes and disruptions – the economic recessions, the world wars, the presence and absence of local industries, and the cultural shifts therein. It's worth mentioning that, \while Dave Myers and Si King approach these narratives with warmth and respect, there is also a balance in their discernment of the changes that these pubs have had to adapt to survive over centuries.

The Hairy Bikers' Pubs That Built Britain is no ordinary travel and food series; it is a heart-stirring journey through a country's roots subtly intertwined with the threads of its pub culture. Dave Myers and Si King, as not mere hosts but as affable company, take you through meandering lanes, seemingly humdrum, leading to centuries-old pubs to share stories of 'the local' which, you realize, have not been merely locally significant. They are a part of a long-drawn tapestry narrating the story and progression of Britain itself. The show stands as an amusing, insightful, and heart-warming homage to the connection between Britain's pubs and its people.