Cryptic crossword clue
A bounder holding man up in pub 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 3 plus 5 letter word ALE HOUSE

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
A
L
E
H
O
U
S
E

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "pub" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case pub = ale house.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does ALE HOUSE mean?

ALE HOUSE noun
  1. A business, such as an inn or tavern, where ale is sold.

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