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Original poster

To hope that this "new" way of queuing at pubs just becomes the norm

108 replies

OptimismvsRealism · 14/07/2024 18:49

A fair way of lining up instead of everyone jostling stressfully and the hottest or tallest or most pals with the bartender getting first dibs?

OP posts:
Nearlyroses · 14/07/2024 23:08

Love the chat at the bar, the random interactions. I don’t understand what’s happening to pubs - meeting people used to be the point of going out - otherwise you might as well drink at home.

palomatoast · 14/07/2024 22:54

I just find it sad how much we're losing our ability and desire to interact with other humans outside of our little bubbles. There's something lovely about having a laugh with the bartender, doing the "she/he was first" bit and getting a smile and a thank you from the person next to you.

When I worked in a locals pub we had a widower who would often sit at the bar and chat with the bar staff and other regulars. You'd hear about people's weddings / engagements / new babies / pets etc. When done well pubs can be such a lovely, friendly communal space. That's why they're such an institution. I guess that that's why I get so depressed by "I just want to order from an app and have a faceless person bring it to me please".

StMarieforme · 14/07/2024 22:03

App to the table all the way!

Allfur · 14/07/2024 22:01

Unfortunately that doesn't always work

HappyToSmile · 14/07/2024 21:59

When I worked in a (very busy, centre of town) pub, we knew who to serve when because we naturally kept an eye on who turned up when.

LumpyandBumps · 14/07/2024 21:55

I don’t care how I queue in a pub as long as I can actually get to the bar. My local has quite a small bar and the three bar stalls are always occupied by men. There is no space at the bar. I gave up going there as I don’t want to to have to talk and pass payments over their heads.

Cheersmedears123 · 14/07/2024 21:36

I don’t know any pubs that have the space for a proper queue. You just find a gap at the bar and move forward. If the bartender looks to you but the person next to you was there first, you direct them that way. This is how it works in every pub local to me.

thenightsky · 14/07/2024 21:21

Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong · 14/07/2024 19:29

I hate the anticipation of 'the turn'. You know when the person in front is being served, you are peeping over the left shoulder, someone else peeping over the right. If person in front turns right you are in, if you move quickly. Eyes on the prize. But if they turn left you have to let them pass and person on right wins. This always stresses me out no end.

Perfect description!

Binman · 14/07/2024 21:21

I love the bar banter.

My friend who works in a bar says tips work better than tits.

in this day of apps and card payments the staff rarely get a tip.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 14/07/2024 21:17

kitsuneghost · 14/07/2024 20:52

I think she means the QR code comment
I imagine QR codes are easier for deaf people

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QR codes are even easier, but I meant actually being able to go up to the bar and buy drinks straight away like everybody else, not wait an undetermined length of time whilst they serve at the bar and maybe check the orders in a bit.

Curlywurlywurly · 14/07/2024 21:14

I usually find flashing a bit of cleavage gets the male bartenders attention if the bar is very busy.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 14/07/2024 21:14

palomatoast · 14/07/2024 20:46

Why would hearing loss mean you need to queue in a straight line and not along the bar?

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Because I can't hear anything when everybody's alongside talking/chatting/laughing/bellowing at the bar and the bar staff tend to move away and not face you when speaking (which also makes lipreading pretty much impossible, too).

MartyFunkhouser · 14/07/2024 21:10

I much prefer the scan the QR code and get table service way.

TheNestedIf · 14/07/2024 21:10

As a short arse who habitually avoids eye contact after years of living in London (it encourages perverts), I couldn't agree more.

HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf · 14/07/2024 21:08

Wriggle in, ALWAYS be totally honest if someone's in front of you and nod the bar person in their direction, say thanks if someone does the same to you, buy the bar person a drink at the first round and go back to the same bar tender all night.

Love a bar.

DopeyS · 14/07/2024 21:04

There should be a ticket system like there used to be waiting to buy from the counters at supermarket. It would work great until some bright spark had their ticket upside down and tries to push in, or steals someone else's. Or drops it 🤣

I think people/drunk people waiting to be served is always going to be a little bit of carnage. Then you end up making a random friend

murasaki · 14/07/2024 21:02

The best way is to be a regular and they're already pouring by the time you hit the bar. Tits may help, not sure as it works for DP too who is scrawny.

rickyrickygrimes · 14/07/2024 20:58

it’s so weird that in 🇬🇧 UK where everybody knows how to queue, no one queues in pubs. But in 🇫🇷 France , where no one knows how to queue, they all queue at the bar 🤪.

British style pubs are still a bit of a novelty here. They are designed to look like pubs, with lovely long bars, but if you try to walk up and order a beer you are either shooed away to sit down (table service only) or glared at till you queue at the right place 🙄. I’ve only found one place where you walk up and order: they actually had to put up signs telling people just to walk up and order as everyone was queuing at one end of the very long bar and only one person getting served at a time🙄.

Waffle78 · 14/07/2024 20:57

OptimismvsRealism · 14/07/2024 19:02

This is best of all ofc but I've only seen it on wetherspoons and green king

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Ah but those pubs you can order and pay on an app. Which I do if there is one and they bring your drinks for you as well much easier.

kitsuneghost · 14/07/2024 20:52

palomatoast · 14/07/2024 20:46

Why would hearing loss mean you need to queue in a straight line and not along the bar?

Show quote history

I think she means the QR code comment
I imagine QR codes are easier for deaf people

FrancisSeaton · 14/07/2024 20:52

TheLastTrainForTheCoast · 14/07/2024 19:04

Best way to get served at a bar has always been to squeeze your tits together. Not PC but true. Also, surprisingly,I've found early 40s tits work just as well .

Works for my dad

kitsuneghost · 14/07/2024 20:49

The best way to get served is smile
No-one wants to serve a grumpy bastard

kitsuneghost · 14/07/2024 20:48

I hate an orderly queue at a bar. Seems stuffy and weird.

palomatoast · 14/07/2024 20:46

NeverDropYourMooncup · 14/07/2024 20:29

So sorry, I'll just take myself and my hearing loss back indoors where I so clearly belong so I don't sully your experience.

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Why would hearing loss mean you need to queue in a straight line and not along the bar?

OchonAgusOchonOh · 14/07/2024 20:43

@CombatLingerie wriggling in to the small gap is one of then benefits of being small. I was also very adept at catching the eye and getting served quickly. Politeness always helps too.