As such, the highs and lows of pub life are frequent features in The News.
Here are some pictures from 2006 showing the good and the bad, from charity events to break-ins, and featuring many landlords from the time. There are also a few pubs which have sadly disappeared in the intervening 20 years.
5. The Cricketers, Riders Lane, Leigh Park
Landlord John Morton (061695-51) Photo: Jonathan Brady
7. The Red Lion
A convoy of motorcyclists depart on a fundraising event from the pub at Stubbington Green for a sponsored ride in aid of Basics Hampshire Volunteers emergency doctor and paramedics service (061854-0047) Photo: Michael Scaddan
8. The Stag
Gary Marsh-Evans, landlord of the pub in New Road, Portsmouth, who was to raffle a signed 1966 world cup shirt to raise money for charities including The Rowans Hospice (062265-2) Photo: Paul Jacobs