Down The Pub: Just what defines atmosphere?

Atmosphere

at-mos-phere / nc / 1 (the --) the mixture of gases surrounding the earth. 2 air in any place such as a room: a fresh atmosphere. 3 the general feeling produced by a place, conditions etc: the atmosphere of a big city. 4 (literature) the mood or feeling produced by the effect a piece of writing has on the reader.

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So many of the Down The Pub reviews mention the atmosphere of a pub. But just what is atmosphere? The Oxford Student's Dictionary says it is the "general feeling produced by a place."

We at Down The Pub strongly believe that there is such a thing as atmosphere and that you can tell within a minute or two of walking into the pub whether it has one or not. Some are good, and some just make you squirm: Is it the stares you get off some people, is it the music, the decor? What makes atmosphere?

Here we need your help! Please use the form below to tell us what you think makes atmosphere in a pub. We will publish your views as soon as possible and aim to develop the ten rules for creating a good atmosphere!