Set in a post-apocalyptic England, where basically the world has ended, Lebbon's Bar None unfolds an exquisitely layered tale of five survivors. The five eke out an existence in a stately English manor, attempting to grow food and capping off what little alcohol remains to drink. Lebbon names his chapters after various brands of beers and ales, although it's not to be cute. The names all relate to one of the characters past experiences with this brand and how their back stories eventually flesh out the book.
A stranger arrives one day, causing some paranoid curiosity among the five as they had not seen another live soul, not human anyway, in a very long time. He tells the group that there is a place, a bar where they can all be safe and where the beer never runs out. I know, this sounds like it might be a humorous plot but it's not, all eventually makes sense. The stranger calls himself Michael, but admits that's just his name for today. He meets with each of the group and gives them the same warning about getting out of the manor. With much trepidation, the group sets out on the bizarre quest, through a world they no longer recognize, to find the Holy Grail of pubs.
Bar None is a strange book that doesn't give up its secrets too easily. It's told in the first person which I've never been crazy about but Lebbon makes it work here, due in part to the main character's name never being revealed. Bar None is dark and dreary...nature has reclaimed the world quickly. At under 200 pages it's a short read, somewhat slow in parts but Lebbon manages to keep the readers attention with the quirky world he's fashioned.
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