In 1946 the novelist George Orwell* wrote an article for the London Evening Standard paper about his ideal ideal pub.  For him the pub would have the following 10 attributes:

1. On a side street, to keep out the drunks or 'rowdies'.
2. Most of the customers are regulars and 'go there for conversation as much as for the beer'.
3. Its look is uncompromisingly Victorian - 'everything has the solid comfortable ugliness of the 19th century' - and there is a log fire in winter.
4. A dining room upstairs, where you can get a good solid lunch.  Only snacks are served in the evening.
5. Downstairs there is a public bar, a saloon bar and a ladies' bar.
6. No radio, no piano.  It is always quiet enough to talk.
7. The barmaids know the customers' names and call them 'dear', but never 'ducky'.
8. It sells tobacco, stamps and even aspirin.
9. The beer (including a 'soft, creamy stout') is always served in a glass with a handle, ideally a pewter or china pot.
10. There is a garden, with a slide and swings for children.  It is 'puritanical nonsense' to ban children.

He wrote, at the end of the piece, that he had only ever found a pub with eight of the 10 features.

* http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/orwell_george.shtml

The site Smitten by Britain give five crucial differences between a British pub and an American bar: the name, TV screens, food, decor and location:

http://www.smittenbybritain.com/the-difference-between-a-british-pub-and-an-american-bar/

Having said that, when in Scotland recently I noticed that pubs have very different names from the usual English ones like Red Lion, Rose and Crown (see above) ,Travellers' Rest, Queens Head, Kings Arms (see: http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/raising-the-bar-pubs-booklet.pdf).  See 'A short history of pub names: http://www.britainexpress.com/History/culture/pub-names.htm

And another site 'What makes the perfect pub' in the Telegraph:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/pubs/9520257/What-makes-a-perfect-pub.html

Having just got over a horrible virus which laid me low for five days, here's something humorous to cheer us all up - workers having 'a bad day': https://www.youtube.com/embed/78RrsepkQKA?rel=0

And here's Buster Keaton's classic footage from Steamboat Bill Jnr (1928) included in 6 dangerous stunts from the silent movies: http://mentalfloss.com/article/28422/6-dangerous-stunts-silent-movie-era

How that movie got made without serious mishap is quite a mystery!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN2SKWSOdGM

Tonsillitis is no reason for a child to miss school, parents are told

Children struck down with tonsillitis or glandular fever should carry on going to school, according to a new healthy guide issued to parents.
The booklet - handed to families in South Wales - says pupils should take 'zero days off' despite suffering a range of childhood illnesses such as conjunctivitis, head lice, threadworm and hand, foot and mouth disease.
It also recommends that children should spend only four days away from school for measles and take no more than five days for chicken pox, whooping cough and mumps.
The guide, produced by a consortium of five councils, including Cardiff, says families should seek advice from NHS  Direct or consult their GP before making a decision to remove their child from the classroom.  For full story, see: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/news-opinion/abbie-wightwick-spare-advice-parents-7931554.

Or would it be a good idea to trust parents to be able to make an informed decision?  I know when mine had measles and also glandular fever four days or so wouldn't have been nearly enough time for them to recuperate.