To not want to download a bloody app to order a drink in the pub or wait for waiter sevice

[Hilsea]

Grr

So this afternoon I had 2 hours to spare before picking up daughter and so I thought I would go to the pub to sit outside, relax and take in the sun. I havent been to many pubs over the past two years owing to lockdowns etc so I was pleased to have this opportunity

First pub I went to (traditional pub, part of chain, classy (not spoons!)) I went in to the bar and was told rudely - 'its only table service now - take a seat and we will come and take your order'. So I went outside and sat down in sight of the door expecting a server to come shortly. One passed by twice and I tried to catch her eye, neither time did she make eye contact or seemed to want to take my order - I waited 10 minutes before leaving.

Pub number two (again part of chain, classy, good range of wines) I went in and was stopped from ordering being told that I needed to download the app and order that way and basically to get out of the bar. So I walked straught out of the door - I cant be bothered to download an app

Third pub (individual, but I found out later actually part of chain, classy) I walked into, ordered drink at bar, paid and walked outside to table where I was able to drink it. Hoorah -

Why cant pubs just get back to normal and offer the service that customers actually want? The value of a pub is going to the bar and seeing the range of drinks available and then making a choice and making a swift transaction. If I want table service I will go to a bar or cafe, I go to a pub for the minimum of hassle of obtaining the drink.

AIBU to expect this? Will things ever get back to normal?

There; rant over!

@C8H10N4O2

You obviously don't live in London

Not only do I live in London but so do three of my adult DC and their partners.

Well, none of the pubs around where I am allow ordering at the bar, and I've only been to one in the general area that did. And a lot of them also only allow payment through the app.

"Nah I’m not into it, bring back the scrum at the bar!"

When GPs are back to normal service, then yes. Why should we sacrifice the health of bar staff come winter?

OP if you went in rougher pubs you could probably get served at the bar.

I prefer it personally but I can see why it's not for everyone. I always think it's really sad for people (mostly older people I guess) who perhaps don't have a mobile phone, or if they do wouldn't know how to use an app.

I’d rather an app than waiting for ages at the bar and getting frustrated at people who can’t get their shit together enough to order a drink or a meal. I’ve been suing them long before Covid.

@BoredZelda

I’d rather an app than waiting for ages at the bar and getting frustrated at people who can’t get their shit together enough to order a drink or a meal. I’ve been suing them long before Covid.

I went to the isle of Wight a few months ago and had an excruciatingly long wait behind a group of self-centred cretins who literally took about 20 minutes to order their lunch, completely oblivious to the long queue building up behind them and the additional covid risk they were creating for everyone.

"Do you do sandwiches?"
"Yes, they're on the menu here. It's also on the wall over there if you want to take your time looking, or you could take a seat and we'll bring one out" (hint totally ignored)
"Are they all cold ones? Have you got any hot food?"
"The hot food is here on the right hand side."
"Oooh I think I'll have the tuna with mayo.....no, no actually, the chicken. I feel a bit funny sometimes after I have tuna. What do you want, Mavis? Cheese? Nothing else? Not even a bit of mayo on it?"

And on and on and on. Every single option for every single member of the party debated in great detail, minds changed, things ordered and cancelled and then reordered. Brenda wanted tea but actually she's changed her mind and she'll have a coffee now because she's a bit tired...oh Richard has decided he wants a coffee now as well.

I was absolutely livid...I literally just wanted a can of Coke. The man behind the counter apologised profusely but it wasn't his fault. Some people are just so incredibly selfish and oblivious. This is why I prefer apps.

Table service, fine. I always appreciate it on holidays abroad. When asked to download an app, I leave.

Why should any business be beholden to return to operating the way they did pre-pandemic?

If a business has found that the changes they were forced to adopt actually work better for them, it's entirely their prerogative to keep them.

FWIW I absolutely love table service. Even better if I can order via an app or website because I'm not at the mercy of the waiting staff passing my table. I also don't miss queuing at the bar.

Sorry, just to confirm, were these classy establishments?

Try being a very strict glutenn free blind customer going in spoons...

Asks for accessible table menu (they don't have one,and gluten free doesn't have the symbol now so friends can't help either.

I was told to download an app. T&C so long tvcouldnt agree to them.

They took me to an electronic menu -and was told they could not help/advise how to use the menu (that a) i couldn't see ffs) of how to identify allergens b)that I couldn't see. Ffs x2

I asked,very politely, ti see the manager,surely they could help me...but no,he was helping customers who had managed to irde!!

Went hone and had beans on gluten free toas

I don't go pubs. But I went to a food place, it's more of a dessert place but do standard burgers too, independent place. you have to view their menu using your phone on their website, and then there's a minimum spend, so if you went with friends and paying individually, there's no way you could just get dessert and a drink as it wouldn't meet their minimum spend.
It's a very Instagram place, looks very pretty, spent a lot on deco and zero on menu

This is why I say to bar / restaurant staff that I forgot my phone at home unfortunately ;-).

Not an app but I went to the cinema recently and was forced to accept table service even though all I wanted was a drink to take with me to the screen. The film was just starting and there was nobody else at the counter. Incredibly frustrating!

@ichundich

This is why I say to bar / restaurant staff that I forgot my phone at home unfortunately ;-).

My friend does that, to start with it was to avoid scanning into places. Then she gets it out at the table. I cringe when the staff see it.

I'm deaf and ordering on an app is so much easier for me.

I think part of it is the rude attitude that I’ve come across a few times, more than the apps themselves.

There is a hotel bar/restaurant locally that used to be great, usually busy and with a good atmosphere. On the last couple of occasions I visited it was mostly empty (and freezing as all the windows are open)

When you walk through the door there someone leaps out and scolds you for not waiting at a designated line to wait be seated in the empty restaurant.

Then, once allowed to enter, the staff huddled around the bar look at you askance as if you are bang out of order for even walking in there, should scurry to your table as unobtrusively as possible and then be pathetically grateful that you will be allowed to stay.

I am speaking in the present tense even though I haven’t been recently as others who have gone there more recently say the same thing about the atmosphere , I gave up after a few tries!

Not all are as extreme as that but general customer service has just dropped so much. I know hospitality is hard work and they have struggled with staffing levels, but for goodness sake, treating paying customers like a complete inconvenience is not the way to go.

It is the chains I’ve noticed this is the most though, as maybe the staff have less reason to even pretend to care.

There is an independent cafe/coffee shop near to where I live that has become so popular since lockdown, despite being really quite expensive. It isn’t possible to reserve tables but there is nearly always a queue outside from as soon as it opens in the morning.

The food is good, but mainly they have a lovely atmosphere- the owners work in there every day and chat to the customers and are very welcoming.

No app or shouting at people to stand behind lines. They seem genuinely pleased to have custom It goes a long way at the moment.

@PineNutsAreOverpriced a lot of people are so disrespectful regarding covid though...can you blame them for being like that? I would hate to have my health put at risk by customers who wanted to stand where they liked or complain about the ventilation (open windows) that's there to protect everyone. All for minimum wage.

I think at the moment, while we're still very much in a pandemic, safety trumps 'atmosphere' by quite a long way.