Fishhead's Bucket

The historical tavern with the funny name.

I was sitting down enjoying my meal when another merchant came in and ordered a drink to the cheers of the other patrons. Just when I thought that was done the most foul smell that has ever disgraced my olfactory sense wafted over. I was laughed at for the expression I couldn't avoid when I smelled it.
I first thought to write this letter to recommend a quiter place to stay when you come through Seaside but before I got to my paper and my ink, there was music and drinks all around. I drank and joined in the shanties. I even kissed the lips of a fish.
If you go to Seaside, stay at Fishhead's Bucket.

— Killan Vursuut, Letter to a Colleague

Seaside's First Tavern

Fishhead's Bucket is the oldest tavern in Seaside and remains the most popular and prestigious - but not in a fancy upper-class way. The walls of the tavern are covered in the names of the winning crews from each year's Salt to Stern race and the furniture is made from the planks of shipwrecks - mostly from ships that didn't survive the Hulltear Spines.
The tavern got its name from the original owner's love of fishheads. He would leave a bucket outside his door for people to put in the fishheads that would have otherwise been thrown out. The owner's descendants still run the Bucket over a hundred years later. Continuing in the tradition of their ancestor, they make use of many things that would otherwise go unused.

Menu from the Bucket

In addition to offering many of the dishes common across the town and into Breharan, Fishhead's Bucket offers several dishes that are not usually served elsewhere. Seatongues are the most popular snack to go with drinks and are battered fish tongues fried in oil, optionally served with whitesauce. The seafood chowder is served in actual buckets - though specially made serving-sized ones. For the brave there is the house special, the fermented fish heads. Ordering one isn't just an experience for the orderer but for the entire tavern because the smell of the dish makes everyone inside feel a little bit ill.
For drinks the Bucket carries some local brews and a variety of imports. The drink that gets the most attention is the one with the highest alcohol content, the harshest flavour, and that causes the worst burning feeling when consumed - screech. For the full ritual, the drinker must then kiss a freshly caught fish. This usually also involves the other patrons cheering on the drinkers. Many outsiders do this when they visit but it is also a common for the locals to do so after the end of a romantic relationship.

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Song and Dance

Fishhead's Bucket is not known only as the oldest tavern in Seaside but also the rowdiest. Oftentimes people stay awake much later than they otherwise would to drink, sing, and dance to the music of the band.
There isn't a schedule for distinct musical groups to play at the tavern. Instead, the band is made up of whichever musicians - and instruments - are present. Sometimes there are several people playing the same type of instrument and others there is a diverse group but always there is fun to be had.

Competition

As Seaside grew, more taverns opened. Each new one that opened had to compete with Fishhead's Bucket - no easy task. To compete against such an institution they had to find different avenues to attract customers.
They couldn't compete against the storied past and cultural importance so most chose to be less rowdy than the oldest tavern in town. As the twon grew busier, the limits of each tavern allowed the others to gain business. Even so, most of the others only see those ready to sleep because they are busy drinking and enjoying the atmosphere at Fishhead's Bucket.

"Fishhead's isn't just a bar or an inn, it is an institution."

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