Bar Etiquette ?
Discussion
Was in a bar in Bath the other day queuing for a drink, had been there five minutes or more whilst someone did a large order consisting of complicated drinks, a chap sidles up to the right of the queue and manages to start getting served, I pointed out that there was a queue and he started huffing and puffing but saw sense as someone else pointed it out and the girl decided to serve me instead.
He muttered something under his breath and I said "Sorry, I missed that, what did you say" and he decided to not reiterate it and just then sulked a bit.
Normally I will just let it go but had been waiting a while, was thirsty and had limited time due to having a meal booked.
I could understand if it was chaos, but he saw the queue and decided not to bother, do you object in this scenario, do you try and jump the queue ?
He muttered something under his breath and I said "Sorry, I missed that, what did you say" and he decided to not reiterate it and just then sulked a bit.
Normally I will just let it go but had been waiting a while, was thirsty and had limited time due to having a meal booked.
I could understand if it was chaos, but he saw the queue and decided not to bother, do you object in this scenario, do you try and jump the queue ?
No, i don't try and jump the queue. A good bartender will know the general order of who came to the bar when.. and may of course, consciously or unconsiously decide who to prioritise or de-prioritise based on attitude.
However, many bars do not employ good bartenders, and will give each "team member" a section of the bar to work, so in your scenario, you're in Section 1 behind Mr Buying Every Complicated Cocktail and then Ordering Guinness type person, whilst the other chap in in Section 2 where everyone's just asking for tap water and then this guy moves up and all of a sudden he's got ahead of you. There's no clear line to you the customer, but you'll be in "the other section" and won't register to them at all.
However, many bars do not employ good bartenders, and will give each "team member" a section of the bar to work, so in your scenario, you're in Section 1 behind Mr Buying Every Complicated Cocktail and then Ordering Guinness type person, whilst the other chap in in Section 2 where everyone's just asking for tap water and then this guy moves up and all of a sudden he's got ahead of you. There's no clear line to you the customer, but you'll be in "the other section" and won't register to them at all.
I'd never knowingly jump the queue, and would say to some one who does it to me, especially in the situation as yours with food waiting.
Though if it was mega busy, like at a concert or at a nightclub with hundreds of people deep at the bar, sometimes it just has to be dog eat dog. That said, I avoid these situations as much as possible.
Though if it was mega busy, like at a concert or at a nightclub with hundreds of people deep at the bar, sometimes it just has to be dog eat dog. That said, I avoid these situations as much as possible.
HarryFlatters said:
When did queuing in a pub become a thing? Don't you just walk up to an empty bit of bar and wait to be served?
Have I been doing it wrong for the last 20 years?
Is the correct answer.Have I been doing it wrong for the last 20 years?
If one is a Gentleman then you will say 'this fellow was here before me' if the barman comes to you 'out of order'.
If you queue up then the barman probably thinks you are a friend of the person ordering rather than a separate customer.
Shakermaker said:
No, i don't try and jump the queue. A good bartender will know the general order of who came to the bar when.. and may of course, consciously or unconsiously decide who to prioritise or de-prioritise based on attitude.
However, many bars do not employ good bartenders, and will give each "team member" a section of the bar to work, so in your scenario, you're in Section 1 behind Mr Buying Every Complicated Cocktail and then Ordering Guinness type person, whilst the other chap in in Section 2 where everyone's just asking for tap water and then this guy moves up and all of a sudden he's got ahead of you. There's no clear line to you the customer, but you'll be in "the other section" and won't register to them at all.
Worked many bars in my youth and agree with all of that. Theres also regulars who you know never ever change their order so you just start making their drinks on sight. However, many bars do not employ good bartenders, and will give each "team member" a section of the bar to work, so in your scenario, you're in Section 1 behind Mr Buying Every Complicated Cocktail and then Ordering Guinness type person, whilst the other chap in in Section 2 where everyone's just asking for tap water and then this guy moves up and all of a sudden he's got ahead of you. There's no clear line to you the customer, but you'll be in "the other section" and won't register to them at all.
Vandenberg said:
When I worked in a bar, we would police the order, and anyone trying to click their fingers, shout or push in, went to the back of the line.
Any persistent offenders would get a couple of drops of pipe cleaning fluid in their pint.
Whilst I agree with the 1st sentence, I call bullsAny persistent offenders would get a couple of drops of pipe cleaning fluid in their pint.
t at putting line cleaner in drinks! Bet that didn't really happen. Shakermaker said:
HarryFlatters said:
When did queuing in a pub become a thing? Don't you just walk up to an empty bit of bar and wait to be served?
Have I been doing it wrong for the last 20 years?
I took the OP's post in the way that what you describe was interchangeable with the word "queue" Have I been doing it wrong for the last 20 years?
How very PH to equate queuing at a bar as forming a line. Apologies if to those on the autistic spectrum.
Shakermaker said:
HarryFlatters said:
When did queuing in a pub become a thing? Don't you just walk up to an empty bit of bar and wait to be served?
Have I been doing it wrong for the last 20 years?
I took the OP's post in the way that what you describe was interchangeable with the word "queue" Have I been doing it wrong for the last 20 years?
J4CKO said:
, a chap sidles up to the right of the queue
Given the above excerpt from the OP, there absolutely was a queue.
shirt said:
Shakermaker said:
No, i don't try and jump the queue. A good bartender will know the general order of who came to the bar when.. and may of course, consciously or unconsiously decide who to prioritise or de-prioritise based on attitude.
However, many bars do not employ good bartenders, and will give each "team member" a section of the bar to work, so in your scenario, you're in Section 1 behind Mr Buying Every Complicated Cocktail and then Ordering Guinness type person, whilst the other chap in in Section 2 where everyone's just asking for tap water and then this guy moves up and all of a sudden he's got ahead of you. There's no clear line to you the customer, but you'll be in "the other section" and won't register to them at all.
Worked many bars in my youth and agree with all of that. Theres also regulars who you know never ever change their order so you just start making their drinks on sight. However, many bars do not employ good bartenders, and will give each "team member" a section of the bar to work, so in your scenario, you're in Section 1 behind Mr Buying Every Complicated Cocktail and then Ordering Guinness type person, whilst the other chap in in Section 2 where everyone's just asking for tap water and then this guy moves up and all of a sudden he's got ahead of you. There's no clear line to you the customer, but you'll be in "the other section" and won't register to them at all.
, or maybe it's just the barmaids way of avoiding having me chat her up? 
HarryFlatters said:
When did queuing in a pub become a thing? Don't you just walk up to an empty bit of bar and wait to be served?
Have I been doing it wrong for the last 20 years?
Where do you live where you've never been to a bar that's busy for the last 20 years. Have I been doing it wrong for the last 20 years?
Sure when things are quiet just walk up and wait for the bar tender to get to you... but when the queue is six deep queue-jumpers are public enemy #1.
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