This documentary is a result of Sue Bourne’s 3000 mile round journey of all Red Lion pubs in England. She does not appear on the film, but rather use the Voice Of God narration tool. She interviews people from what appears to be varied different backgrounds. Bourne highlights the common theme of loneliness prominent in the individuals and couples involved. This in retrospect, doesn’t take a great deal of investigative journalism to uncover, when it’s obvious the people your interviewing would rather spend more time in a pub with people you may or may not know; than be at home alone, or with the same familiar people.

I expected more from watching the documentary, rather than just stating the obvious. However, this being originally broadcast on primetime Channel 4, confronting the British public with what they don’t want to realise about themselves, they would just switch over, so I could understand why Bourne didn’t investigate further into other more unusual running themes.

How it was shot was something that did appeal to me. The use of photo montages to show the progress of time was something that could be rather gimmicky and cliché, was done very successfully and professionally.

Bourne narrated in a rather condescending manor when reflecting on the interviews, suggesting the pub as a ‘crutch’ for the British public. However, when she visits a town where their Red Lion has shut down, she almost scrutinizes the villagers for not being able to lead a social life without it. The documentary was a comment on our societies need to drink in order to have a good time, however this isn’t something we never knew before.