Thanks to the nation’s British roots, pubs have formed a beloved part of Australian life. But what differentiates a good pub from a great pub?

It’s a question that has finally been solved by our cousins in the UK. The results of a survey from YouGov have just been released which determine exactly what the ideal pub looks like. More than half of those interviewed determined that there are five key characteristics for a brilliant drinking den.

These come down to meals being served (67 percent), having a beer garden (63 percent), the presence of a fireplace (52 percent), the selling of snacks (50 percent). To cement the importance of customer service, 51 percent said that it was also important for bar staff to know regular customers and take an interest in all guests.

As for the rest, 37 percent were adamant that real ale is an essential, 35 percent wanted live music, and 34 percent believed that pub quizzes were integral to a great pub. Only 5 percent expressed interest in having pokies present.

The results also revealed how men and women want different things from their pubs. Men were more interested in meals being served (at 74 percent vs. 60 percent), while women had a preference for cocktails (31 percent vs. 14 percent).

Women are also more interested in the aesthetics, preferring to see books about (32 percent to 18 percent), and a fireplace (58 percent to 45 percent). Men have more of a penchant for sports (27 percent vs. 9 percent), pool tables (29 percent vs. 19 percent) and dart boards (21 percent vs. 13 percent).