There are literally hundreds of bars in Zürich, but the Big Ben Pub in Niederdorf, located in the heart of the city`s old town, is quite special to many of its regular patrons including myself.

So what makes this bar a favourite hangout and meeting point? From a glance, the Big Ben Pub is just like any other pubs to spend the evening out, watch football or meet up with some friends.
One of the main reasons that makes the Big Ben Pub a magnet to many could rely on its location- just a five-minute walk from the Central main bus and tram stations and it is also a walking distance from Zürich Hauptbahnhof or the main intercity train hub. After the short walk, you will find Big Ben along the cobblestone pavement of Niederdorfstrasse- the enigmatic and historical old town of Zürich and a not-to-be-missed tourist attraction of the city.

The Big Ben is popular for its excellent customer service quality as well, especially the bar manager, Egon who is friendly and charming. The rest of bar tenders are equally chummy too.

I was introduced to this bar by my husband who has already built his circle of friends there. I was accepted as `Kerry`s wife` at first – at least in the first three months. But the ice soon melted and I could proudly say they are all my friends now. The regulars there come from different nationalities- Swiss, Germans, Austrians, Dutch, Turkish, Tunisian and my husband is English. And they are from diverse walks of life and professions too, but we all found a common ground every Friday, to congregate and celebrate the beginning of a weekend.  

Besides quenching our thirsts and chit chatting, there is also Chicago – a dice game- where almost everyone would take the joy of rolling three dice in the special container called the `pischte`. Playing Chicago is fun but players could also be very competitive. Apparently, there are many types of dice games that are popular in Switzerland and Germany. I didn`t get the thrill and fun in the beginning but after understanding the rules and strategies- it could be quite addictive. Throughout the game, there are always fun and laughter as we all enjoy joking and bantering with each other. It is also a great platform for me to practice my German language apart from the intensive courses. My blooming penchant for Chicago also helps me to know my new set of friends better and vice versa.

Three years ago, in 2016, the first Chicago tournament was held at the Big Ben Pub and the numbers of participants has grown to about 30 in 2018. I even took part in the 2017 and 2018 tournaments. The tournament is an event not to be missed for the avid players show their skills and most importantly to be together.

Coming back to the rules of the game- it`s quite complicated to be explained on papers- but basically there are three dice, a pischte and some beer mats. At the end of a game, the loser will have to pay a round of shots of Appenzeller or Äpfeli for everyone. Well, the beauty of the game for me is that there are many winners but only one loser who will have to get the round of shots. Although the game looks like it depends on luck most of the time, but I personally think someone who is good in probability would excel in Chicago. After five or six rounds of games, most of us usually get a bit tipsy.

Then it`s time to take a pause and I normally like to sit outside the bar and enjoy some `people watching`. As Niederdorf forms an integral part of Zürich’s history and heritage that houses many great restaurants and bars, nooks and crannies of alleys waiting to be explored, there is always a constant flow of people – locals and tourists- passing by in front of the bar.

For those who are new to Zürich, please drop by the Big Ben Pub in Niederdorf particularly on Friday evening to enjoy the company of this beautiful family while watching or playing a game of Chicago or two. With a drink in your hands surrounded by good friends, it made me feel I am a part of this community. At the end of the day, I could now comfortably call this city my home.