To go to the pub?

[LumpkinPumpkin]

DD has a gymnastics class on a Thursday from 4-5pm in a village nearby. There is no spectating and it’s not really worth driving home for half an hour. All the cafes in the village close at either 2pm or 4pm, as do most of the shops! There is one lovely secondhand shop that I can while away half an hour in, but I always end up buying something so it’s not particularly economical.

WIBU to go to the pub and order a coffee and crack on with emails or read a book? I literally don’t even know if you can buy a coffee in a pub, or if they’ll look at me like I have two heads 🤣 I could sit in the car but it’s a bit depressing and the co-op nearby doesn’t even have a Costa machine!

(I’m not usually this anxious about stuff, I swear 🤣)

It’s fine. I would do it. Most pubs now sell tea or coffee.

I'm one of a group of Dads that does this during a 35 minute dance class, but we're a bit more sophisticated and go to a wine bar rather than a pub.

Absolutely fine. I've done it a few times waiting for DD to finish a club. I'm often the only customer in there at 6pm.

No, not unreasonable - unless it's a real dive of a pub. My friend's 70 year old mother once rang her to say she'd arrived early to visit her - but not to rush home as she was having a lovely time with her new friends in the pub across the road from her house. The pub that was a notorious haunt of drug dealers and users...

Friend rushed back to find her mother holding court at a sticky table with various neerdowells who were quite entranced by her. She was a lovely lady....

You don’t need permission to go to a pub and I’m surprised you don’t know they serve coffee,

very unusual overall.

I do exactly the same when I take my child to tutoring!

Of course, why not?

I do the same on a Tuesday night.

My dd has a dance class for an hour, there’s a pub over the road. I love it. I go, have a coke or a tea, scroll on my phone. It’s lovely to sit in peace for an hour.

Pretty much what pubs are for

It’s absolutely fine, but personally I’d buy a travel cup and read my book in the car rather than paying for the coffee out every week. However if the money is spare and it makes you happy, go for it!

I don’t understand how it could cross your mind it’s not a normal thing to do? Of course pubs sell hot drinks/ soft drinks! Of course you can go on your own and do your own thing! No justification needed, just enjoy an hour of quiet with a drink.

Why is this a question? If they don’t do hot drinks then have a lemonade. Hospitality places are crying out for business.

Dives are the most interesting😆

I dived (see what I did there) into one last year when my lift was running late and it was siling it down.

Group of blokes who I am sure weren't pillars of the community were very welcoming and lovely. Almost didn't want to leave albeit yes practice general safety rules, don't give personal details etc. Even most people who go in 'Dives' aren't necessarily terrible people who'd harm a random woman just for fun.

Absolutely nothing wrong with this at all - seems perfectly normal. And if they’re one of the few pubs that don’t serve coffee you could have a cold drink.

Just to put this out there, when I take DS to a hobby that takes an hour but not worth going home, which is down a quiet road, I lock the car doors and have a nap! Which to me is far more exciting 😂

I would

We do this while our son is at Squirrels. Never occurred to us not to, it's the only place open! We just have coffee or soft drinks.

Just wear dark glasses and pull your hat down over your eyes so you're not recognised. It's fine if they don't do tea or coffee (most do these days) you could always get a tonic water or another soft drink.

Of course!

I find it hard now my kids are young but I used to go to the pub all the time for a similar purpose. I didn't always get a pint.

I used to do this when DD used to go to a maths tutor. It's perfectly fine.

When you said pub, I thought you were going to say to have a glass of wine - and I know they whole under / over the limit is a contentious issue - but you are only going to have a coffee?

What is the issue?

If they don't serve coffee, have a soft drink or a 0% beer.

If you are worried about being seen, not everyone who crosses the threshold of a pub is going to leave absolutely paralytic. In fact some of us go pubs and don't touch alcohol.

Yanbu to go to the pub
Yabu to order a coffee
Anyone that works /hadls worked in a pub knows the 2 most annoying things a customer can order are a coffee or espresso martini.

Friends mum sounds a lovely lady.

And far less likely to get trouble from rhe " neverdowells" as you put it. See where lack of snootiness gets you

I do this all the time albeit with the youngest in tow because I often have a gap in between collecting them and eldest and the only thing open near school is the pub. Sometimes I even feed them supper in the pub when we have a tight turnaround to an after school activity. I could understand the questioning if it was can I have a half pint or small wine can I still drive them home… but if you’re thinking coffee then it’s a complete none issue. If they don’t have coffee get a coke or whatever instead. You really don’t need to overthink it. Enjoy a nice chill with your book.

I would say that’s absolutely fine. I used to just sit in the car outside my daughters gymnastics with a book

Definitely-much warmer than sitting in the car.

I’ve worked in numerous pubs and making a coffee during the day or a quiet weekday evening never bothered me in the slightest.