To go to a bar on my own?

[phonebox]

I used to do it quite a lot when I was younger, but haven't for ages.

I have a couple of hours to kill before I meet DP and was thinking of heading into town for a couple of drinks beforehand.

Shall I just prop the bar up with a very boring sheet of work and chat up the barmen? I don't know how sad that would make me look?

I happily sit in a pub with my iPad or a book, usually when I'm meeting someone later and I've got a few hours to kill.
The only time I wouldn't is if there was nowhere to sit or if the music was Boom Boom Shake the Room.

I'll also have lunch alone in a restaurant or pub, I think it's a bit odd to worry about stuff like this TBH.

I wait for DH quite often in a bar - I take a book. I've done it for years and it doesn't bother me at all.

No need for work. Breeze in. "Hi, can I get a large glass of alcohol please?" Thank you. Sit down. Quaff. People watch. Voila. Enjoy!

Why not?
I do it quite a lot.

Oh I wouldn't mind if it was a busy bar...I'm used to those.

But I live in the arse end of nowhere, and I think this place only gets more than 3 customers on a Saturday night...despite the music which is very similar to Boom Boom

Actually thinking about it, that's probably why.

I totally would!

I would too.

I often go early if I am meeting someone, just so I can have a drink on my own.

I would, large G&T & a spot of people watching would go down a treat.

Earphones

No one should be subjected to Boom Boom

I do.
I get a paper and settle down for a cheeky pint in peace.

Do it!
Take a book or a newspaper.
Try to look comfortable like it's the most normal thing in the world.
Take your cue from the blokes there - bet they've never given it a second thought.

Goodness no it's not sad.

I do that all the time. I go there for the nice experience of being in a bar, reading, soaking up the atmosphere & being alone.....but people try to chat to me and to be polite, I chat back and my alone night is gone.
(I'm so awkward and Aspie so I can't get used to the striking up conversations with strangers, I wish I could be invisible!)

I wonder if people see me and think I'm sad. It's never occurred to me before! They should try it if so.

If I sit at the bar or even in a corner with a book, I always seem to get the "Is it good then?" guy.

Depends on the location.
I live in arse end of nowhere.
My local pub is like the one in Withnail and I.
I couldn't stand a couple of hours of the local inbred mouthbreathers gawping at me.

I don't think you are being unreasonable to do it, but I personally wouldn't. I would if I was only going to be waiting 10/15 minutes, but 2 hours would be too long for me. Unless there was absolutely nothing else to do, nowhere to go or I couldn't leave home/work later. Appreciate that is probably me being odd though!

I would go in a heartbeat. I love to people watch and having a drink on my own seems like paradise.

I haven't had that luxury in a very long time - perhaps I should take it for myself again soon.

Do it, I love it. The peace and quiet and people watching. Bliss

You'll want some entertainment if it's 2 hours - take a book or magazine or newspaper.

The other weekend I went out to buy the paper ad then decided to sit with it in a cafe-that-also-serves-alcohol. Twas lovely.

Of course! Go. I do it all the time.

I do it whenever I get the chance!

I do this whenever I get the chance, which isn't often, woe is me. No book, no work just a glass of wine and people watch. I don't even live in a nice area but it doesn't stop me

Yup, I go to bars by myself, usually when I'm killing time. I love it. It feels daring but it shouldn't!

For years I used to drop in to an old man's type pub for a drink around six in the evening, by myself. I used to read and sometimes get a bunch of elderly fishermen helping me with the Irish Times crossword. It was lovely.

I sometimes arrive early to meet someone so I can have half an hour on my own with a wine and my book.

When a boyfriend and I first started dating I arrived at a bar to meet him and he said he was running late. Over TWO HOURS later he turned up and I was rat arsed! Glass after glass... I had been unprepared without a book and sort of stood at the bar knocking them back. Lesson learned - bring reading material and get comfy! Anyway, I forgave him for being so late and married him.

I am now regretting my plans for tomorrow night - a good book in a nice pub sounds much more appealing than having to converse!