Above the Crati Valley in Calabria, Southern Italy, lies a small hilltop village where life revolves around a lively bar, a wood-fired pizza oven, and the people who gather there.

Into this world steps Johnny, an English expat who has lived among the locals long enough to be considered one of their own. Through laughter, misunderstandings, and more than a few glasses of wine, Johnny and his best friend Mario share the stories of the bar, the unforgettable characters who pass through its doors, and the escapades that unfold within.

Some are surreal, some wonderfully ordinary, but all carry the warmth, mischief, and humanity of village life. Told with gentle humour and deep affection, John Broughtons's BAR TALES celebrate friendship, community, and the quirks of small-town life.