To ask if you'd go to the pub?

[wildlygreen]

Using here for traffic as it's a quick decision I need

I walk DD to a club on Wednesdays between 7-8. It's about 20 minutes each way and there are no shops or cafes or anything else open at this time of night. There is however a Wetherspoons. DH thinks I should just take my book and sit in there with a drink (doesn't have to be alcoholic) because I have about 15 minutes at home before having to go back. Pub is 2 minutes from her club. The thing is, it's quite a busy pub and I get anxiety on my own in large crowds. Would you go to the pub or go home for 15 minutes? Sorry for using AIBU, please ask for it to be moved if this isn't appropriate use of this board. I guess AIBU for potentially sitting in the pub?

Pub

Buy lemonade, book, sorted

Absolutely pub. Love a quiet hour ish in a pub with a book.

Pub. I do this. 45 blissful minutes of reading
Plus a bit of crafty people watching- it's a local pub for local people. I walk in and the barman grabs a bottle of coke from the fridge for me.

I also stay at another activity and read because it's walking distance and again, it's a fiddly amount of time between walking home and walking back.

I've been known to take the sewing kit with me too- I can get 4 scout badges done in that time.

Pub 100%

But depends on your anxiety. Does it manifest itself in full blown panic attacks or do you just not prefer being on your own? Sorry to ask but anxiety is used so commonly these days just to describe a low level worry or preference not to do something.

Pub, definitely.

Get to know the bar staff. Choose the quietest area of the pub. They will soon get used to you and be pleased to support you.

I definitely wouldn’t need someone else to suggest this. Sounds lovely.

Definitely the pub! You can order from the app to your table at Spoons, which might be good if you're on your own

Edited to add: why don't you go in next time just to have a look what the atmosphere is like? You don't have to stay. You can always pretend you were looking for someone who wasn't there and walk back out again.

@BogRollBOGOF ah but if it's a local pub for local people, is there anything for me there?

Defo, small glass of red and a little bit of people watching. The best place to do that is Wetherspoons

Pub. Book or knitting and a podcast or paper and crossword. I can easily switch off from the hubbub around me.

Pub!

Yes I’d definitely find a quiet spot in Wetherspoons with a book, and order from the app. I wouldn’t order an alcoholic drink personally, but definitely a soft drink or a tea, and something snacky from the menu might sneak into my order!

Pub, book or scroll MN on your phone.

Pub. But I wouldn't find it anxiety provoking. If you do, then just do whatever would make you happier. Can't you take DS and husband picks him up?

If it's wetherspoons you can have unlimited coffee for about £1.50.

Pub, it's a no brainer

Pub. Just find a quiet corner.

I'd definitely go.

I'd also order a wine and a chicken basket. 😆

Absolutely go to the pub, or at least try it before ruling it out.

If you don't like the idea of going on your own, you could watch to see if there's any other parents not just driving off after drop off. You could invite them to join you.

You could read a book, even wear headphones and what a programme on your phone etc.

Or you could consider time as some tome for exercise - walk or run somewhere other than directly home.

Definitely the pub! Nothing wrong with sitting on your own in a pub. Read your phone or a book and have a drink or coffee - make the most of your child free hour! You said you were walking 😜

A pub, no. A Whetherspoons? Yes. No dogs and plenty of people just hang out there. It’s very chilled.

There are always quite a few people on their own in Spoons, nobody will take any notice of you..

Definitely pub!

Pub.

Getting older and also having to travel a lot for work means I give zero fucks about sitting anywhere on my own these days. It's bliss!

Pub pub pub! I definitely would. And I'd get a pint.

I go for a slow plod run in similar circumstances but the pub sounds much better.