In my local, the Blue Anchor, there is no piped music, and the talking sometimes even gets in the way of drinking. Regular topics include folk music, golf, old cars, baseball, rugby, morris dancing, beer, DIY. Seems a sad list, looking at it, but the talk never stays long on one subject(though yesterday conspiracy theories were rife) It is the oldest and tattiest pub in town, and brews it's own beer.
Heard just up the street from a group of teenagers 'We've got an hour to kill before the bus - let's go in the Blue and listen to the old men talking b*****ks'