They are so cold because the British publis believe the marketing BS that serving it "ice cold" is supposed to be more "refreshing". As you say, the reality is it renders the product virvually tasteless.

However serving lager so cold seems a uniquely British marketing idea, certainly when I've been to countries such as Croatia, Montenegro, etc, I've never found it served so cold and their climates are considerably warmer than ours in the summer.

Although perhaps our foreign neighbours simply prefer to actually taste what they are drinking.

Often in Spain and Greece they will serve it in glasses straight from the freezer though. One bar in Greece even boasted how their bottles of beer were kept below zero degrees.

I've been to both those countries in the last few years and only ever found their beers/lagers served very chilled.
And I agree with Walter in that some locations serve lager in "frozen" glasses as the contents reach a warm temperature within about half an hour.

Anyway, today I've enjoyed several (different) quality real ales in the City.
The last was Adnam's Broadside @ £2.85 - beautiful.

There's a big difference between very chilled and almost frozen, though.

I prefer dark lager, which I found plentiful in both Croatia and Montenegro, that is usually bottled and is served at a more sensible temperature.

At £2.85 you'd have to be dragging me out of the pub. It's closer to £4 around my way. Still worth it though as it's one of my favourite ales.

Ah, I mainly sampled the draught offerings.
Did you visit Kotor?
I hope you climbed the city walls to the Fortress of St John.
You'd need a few beers after that!

I forgot to add it was a Wetherspoons
It was still pretty good and whenever I spot it I'll choose it.
Today I had a Brains "Reverend James" my favourite local brew.
Named after the founder of Buckleys brewery, the Reverend James Buckley - a business man with two conflicting roles – saving souls and satisfying thirsts as Brains describe him.
Lovely full bodied ruby ale @ 4.5%
£2.95 in my local, £3.05 in the City centre.

Yes, we did visit Kotor, an amazing city. We didn't climb up to the fortress, looking up whilst sitting outside a bar in one of the small squares whilst having a beer was more than close enough!

If you ever return then make the effort - and it will be an effort!
It's incredibly demanding and we contemplated stopping - but I knew I'd regret the decision later.
The panoramic views are truly spectacular.
And the beer after you descend tastes twice as good