Standing at the Bar

[Dressinggown]

Each week I meet up with my dad for a couple of pints.

One of our usual 'haunts' is a huge town centre pub which belongs to the largest chain of operators in the country.

We tend to visit around 8:00pm on a Friday night.

Sometimes it can be very busy and there's a constant flow of people wanting to order drinks / food.

Every time that I try to go to the bar there are always 3 or 4 blokes in front of me just using the bar as their 'usual spot' to drink without any consideration for other customers.

On Friday it was the same old story. I wanted to order a couple of pints but was unable to get to the bar because of these ignorant ars*holes.

The lass behind the bar could only shake her head and shrug her shoulders, indicating that she was rather annoyed about the bar boys.

I made a decision to go for it and pushed my way between 2 of them to the bar, moved their pints away and placed my order. The two blokes looked a bit angry about my manoeuvre so I decided to take it a step further. When I was served with my two pints I decided to remain where I was, still in between the blokes who were now unable to access their beers or talk to each other. Just after taking a healthy swig from my pint I gave them a wink, a smile and then remained between them. The lass behind the bar was laughing her socks off.

There was a brief but fairly intense exchange of words which ended with me making some form of reference to male chickens.

Was my behaviour justified in the circumstances ?

[Joe14]

I just order to the table from my app. Don’t need to go anywhere near the bar.
Good story though……. Some drinkers are definitely ignorant

[Fretters]

Did you say excuse me first and ask them to move? It's annoying, but I find that usually works and I've never had to result to barging my way in.

[Dressinggown]

Yes, I was extremely polite upon the first encounter.

"Excuse me lads" was completely ignored.

[Dressinggown]

The second of "I'm trying to get to the bar mate" was also ignored.

[bfcjg]

Totally agree it p1sses me off as well, why don't you just get your drink and either sit down, or stand elsewhere?

[Awayfromburnley]

It's a weird and selfish action drinking at the bar, not sure why you would even want to. Often it is just strange people marking territory and they also are likely have low emotional intelligence/general intellect, quite likely either cause or effect because they stand at the said bar and drink more and therefore have less brain functionality.

[Row x]

Why not just place your order at a different part of the bar?

[Dyched]

If there’s not bar stools in indicates don’t stay there. Not sure way people do it.

[timshorts]

Yes, I was extremely polite upon the first encounter.

"Excuse me lads" was completely ignored.

Perhaps they identified as young girls or as pieces of furniture.

[GetIntoEm]

Was it one big group of lads that completely encircled the bar?

I'll stand at the bar regularly if there is nowhere else to stand with a table or seats at a push. Prefer to stand up and chat.

If it's a tiny bar, it's good etiquette to let people access it still tho

[Jakubclaret]

Fair play but I think it's something the staff should be dealing with or at least some signage could work wonders.

[Graham17]

Yes I agree anyone who stands at a bar when it’s busy are just ignorant

[Sheedyclaret]

Can stand where you want for me normally a polite excuse me works.. merry Christmas to you all have a great day

[Clovius Boofus]

Life is so difficult.

[hoosier-daddy]

Did you say excuse me first and ask them to move? It's annoying, but I find that usually works and I've never had to result to barging my way in.

Come on Fretters, you could have just moved to the side

[bobinho]

Each week I meet up with my dad for a couple of pints.

One of our usual 'haunts' is a huge town centre pub which belongs to the largest chain of operators in the country.

We tend to visit around 8:00pm on a Friday night.

Sometimes it can be very busy and there's a constant flow of people wanting to order drinks / food.

Every time that I try to go to the bar there are always 3 or 4 blokes in front of me just using the bar as their 'usual spot' to drink without any consideration for other customers.

On Friday it was the same old story. I wanted to order a couple of pints but was unable to get to the bar because of these ignorant ars*holes.

The lass behind the bar could only shake her head and shrug her shoulders, indicating that she was rather annoyed about the bar boys.

I made a decision to go for it and pushed my way between 2 of them to the bar, moved their pints away and placed my order. The two blokes looked a bit angry about my manoeuvre so I decided to take it a step further. When I was served with my two pints I decided to remain where I was, still in between the blokes who were now unable to access their beers or talk to each other. Just after taking a healthy swig from my pint I gave them a wink, a smile and then remained between them. The lass behind the bar was laughing her socks off.

There was a brief but fairly intense exchange of words which ended with me making some form of reference to male chickens.

Was my behaviour justified in the circumstances ?

No. You behaved like an arsehole. A cheeky wink doesn’t change that. The lads weren’t there to cause you a problem - there’s every chance the bar was empty when they stood there having a chat and bothering no-one. On any other day that could have escalated dramatically. And it would’ve been your fault.

Behave ya self. If you can’t go for a drink without acting up, stay in.

Having said that, perhaps they could’ve recognised you were waiting and made room for you to get served - I would’ve done.

The Dyche has a policy of no standing at the bar, it’s well signed and policed by all the bar staff. It makes for quick and efficient service. Spoons doesn’t. So if it’s a problem, go to the Dyche rather than being a dick just for the sake of it.

Well, you DID ask….

[IanMcL]

I was in Glasgow on the day of a Calcutta Cup match. Spoons was rammed - every space had a person, and the bar had about 6 layers of people waving their notes, hoping for a drink.

Partner and I found a ledge with a number in it. Ordered on app and in moments, we were drining and had sorted what food they could do for late breakfast!

[Jakubclaret]

I was in Glasgow on the day of a Calcutta Cup match. Spoons was rammed - every space had a person, and the bar had about 6 layers of people waving their notes, hoping for a drink.

Partner and I found a ledge with a number in it. Ordered on app and in moments, we were drining and had sorted what food they could do for late breakfast!

It’s quite an efficient service my local jolly tars don't seem to miss a beat it’s within 10 mins. I personally wouldn’t spend longer than 5 mins on my plates of meat waiting for a drink I’d go to the local nearest off licence & find somewhere else for service/sit & save a couple of quid in the process. I think a lot of this is down to a lack of self awareness people get far too comfortable & consideration for others falls by the wayside you can be comfortable & considerate at the same time sadly some folk aren’t.

[Bosscat]

I blame brexit

[Big Vinny K]

What bobihno said.
Why make an incident out of something so trivial.
It sounds like you really enjoyed it.
Will no doubt end in tears for you at some point.

[Woodleyclaret]

Standing outside the toilets in the North stand Jimmy Mac end with a half time pint blocking the way chatting to mates is a total pain why not move and show some consideration

[Jakubclaret]

It doesn't have to be that incident with self awareness. Make space or actively respond to people lurking lacking confidence that said it's something the staff should be on top of & signage is clearly lacking or the clientele belligerent to notice.

[LincsWoldsClaret]

These days you pretty much have to stand at the bar - all the seats are for those having a meal

[Jakubclaret]

These days you pretty much have to stand at the bar - all the seats are for those having a meal

Every situation is different I think we are talking about congregating & staying put. You can always find a way I often sit at a table after being served & politely asking. I'm no trouble & don't bother people but I go about things a certain way making sure things stay that way.

[dougcollins]

These days you pretty much have to stand at the bar - all the seats are for those having a meal

I try not to drink in that kind of pub.

I know what you mean though.

[Billyblah]

I've never understood why people have to hog the bar once they've received their drinks.
Totally ignorant and disrespectful of other customers ....and people trying to work behind the bar.

[Taffy on the wing]

Each week I meet up with my dad for a couple of pints.

One of our usual 'haunts' is a huge town centre pub which belongs to the largest chain of operators in the country.

We tend to visit around 8:00pm on a Friday night.

Sometimes it can be very busy and there's a constant flow of people wanting to order drinks / food.

Every time that I try to go to the bar there are always 3 or 4 blokes in front of me just using the bar as their 'usual spot' to drink without any consideration for other customers.

On Friday it was the same old story. I wanted to order a couple of pints but was unable to get to the bar because of these ignorant ars*holes.

The lass behind the bar could only shake her head and shrug her shoulders, indicating that she was rather annoyed about the bar boys.

I made a decision to go for it and pushed my way between 2 of them to the bar, moved their pints away and placed my order. The two blokes looked a bit angry about my manoeuvre so I decided to take it a step further. When I was served with my two pints I decided to remain where I was, still in between the blokes who were now unable to access their beers or talk to each other. Just after taking a healthy swig from my pint I gave them a wink, a smile and then remained between them. The lass behind the bar was laughing her socks off.

There was a brief but fairly intense exchange of words which ended with me making some form of reference to male chickens.

Was my behaviour justified in the circumstances ?

...........& then you woke up?

[Muric Leggings]

...........& then you woke up?

That's the spirit.

[Dressinggown]

The pub i am referring to was busy but there were areas in the premises where a group of blokes could easily stand up having a pint.

Despite this, they made the choice to stand at the bar and when other customers tried to get served they just thought that it was a joke to wind everyone else up.

[Paulo]

Wetherspoons bring in new rule to its pubs.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/19949 ... source=nba

[shulgin]

Three basic rules here based around respect

By all means stand at a bar. If it gets busy, move away.

When at a busy bar, be the gent if somebody has been there longer and let them get served

Bar staff should be more observant and look up once in a while when pouring to work out who is next.

[Dressinggown]

The new equivalent of this is hogging seats on short haul flights.

People who have not paid to have an allocated seat want to sit with their mates, so they barge past the queue upon embarkation.

As they are at the front of the queue they get on first just after those with designated seats numbers.

They then take up a seat allocated to another passenger, sometimes taking up more than one seat.

Any question of this from the ticket holder is usually met with "who gives a sh*t about seats. It's first come, first served on these planes".

Cabin staff are often young, inexperienced and under pressure to ensure that the flight leaves on time. Other passengers are reluctant to step in through fear of repercussions.

Dic*heads win.

[bfcmik]

Standing at the bar has been a thing for generations, long before the idea of bar stools was imported from the US. Only small 'country' pubs didn't have a decent size bar.

I find the large chains have lost the effect that the old style landlord used to have, where they would move a group from the bar if there was a crowd waiting - but would also know who was next in the queue. The staff at Wetherspoons have no personal investment in even bothering to confront a customer (they are instructed to not do so, in fact) or keep an eye out for who might be next.

[Row x]

The new equivalent of this is hogging seats on short haul flights.

People who have not paid to have an allocated seat want to sit with their mates, so they barge past the queue upon embarkation.

As they are at the front of the queue they get on first just after those with designated seats numbers.

They then take up a seat allocated to another passenger, sometimes taking up more than one seat.

Any question of this from the ticket holder is usually met with "who gives a sh*t about seats. It's first come, first served on these planes".

Cabin staff are often young, inexperienced and under pressure to ensure that the flight leaves on time. Other passengers are reluctant to step in through fear of repercussions.

Dic*heads win.

Which airlines dont allocate everyone a seat nowadays?

[Dressinggown]

Which airlines dont allocate everyone a seat nowadays?

Apologies, yes all passengers are allocated a seat number. It's that some of these clowns don't want to sit in their seat so they try to get on first and then sit wherever they want.

This practice is now becoming a 'must watch' on social media and is, unsurprisingly, related to Stag Parties who include the practice as part of their itinerary.

[IanMcL]

I think that might be a good outcome, Dressinggown.

I am not sure ai would want to be in the midst or next to a member of a Stag Night group! Better they are all together and you create as much space from them as possible! Otherwise they would spend the flight shouting to each other and saying what they have already downed, in a challenge to their pals!

[dougcollins]

If there’s not bar stools in indicates don’t stay there. Not sure way people do it.

When I had a bar, first thing I did on a busy night was move out all the bar stools.

And don't just move them out - put them out of sight/reach.

[morninbob]

Which airlines dont allocate everyone a seat nowadays?

He's talking about people not sitting in their allocated seats.

[Row x]

He's talking about people not sitting in their allocated seats.

He is now
Not originally though, but thanks