Queuing at bars wtf
Discussion
I’ve noticed for years that weirdos queue at bars in airports but I’ve noticed it a few times recently creeping into general behaviour.
Eg. My very nice local rural pub has the occasional event on that attracts townies and incomers. The bar is long, yet they will form a queue snaking out of the door into the beer garden. I’ll just stroll up to the bar and get served while some twerp looks daggers at me.
Just had the same thing at the ‘Spoons in Leeds train station. People in a queue at one end of the bar. I just walked up the the bar and got a pint in literally five seconds. I noted with interest that the queue then disintegrated as people moved into “normal” places along the bar, and in the remaining time I was in the there another queue did not reassemble.
What’s this about? A natural British desire to queue? Sheeplike behaviour? Post Covid thing? It needs to stop. It’s a bar; if you were meant to queue it’d be a bar hatch or two foot wide bar. I ought to start a campaign.
Eg. My very nice local rural pub has the occasional event on that attracts townies and incomers. The bar is long, yet they will form a queue snaking out of the door into the beer garden. I’ll just stroll up to the bar and get served while some twerp looks daggers at me.
Just had the same thing at the ‘Spoons in Leeds train station. People in a queue at one end of the bar. I just walked up the the bar and got a pint in literally five seconds. I noted with interest that the queue then disintegrated as people moved into “normal” places along the bar, and in the remaining time I was in the there another queue did not reassemble.
What’s this about? A natural British desire to queue? Sheeplike behaviour? Post Covid thing? It needs to stop. It’s a bar; if you were meant to queue it’d be a bar hatch or two foot wide bar. I ought to start a campaign.
I've noticed the same as your observations: they are always queuing in Spoons and it happens in my local when tourists outnumber locals.
Queuing in a pub is an alien concept to me. My local is quite small, so a loud "why the hell is there a queue" normally starts it dispersing back to normal.
Queuing in a pub is an alien concept to me. My local is quite small, so a loud "why the hell is there a queue" normally starts it dispersing back to normal.
People are sheep and can’t think outside of their little bubble. It’s a result of the state taking care of you.
I don’t mind queuing when necessary but it’s become a joke now as no one wants to take the initiative if it’s there to be taken as they’re scared to …………… add whatever you like.
I don’t mind queuing when necessary but it’s become a joke now as no one wants to take the initiative if it’s there to be taken as they’re scared to …………… add whatever you like.
I came across this on the ferry from Portsmouth to France. I thought I was in luck when walking up to a mostly empty bar, to then be quickly told 'there's the queue' and then noticed the line of 10 people or so.
A new one on me, and like you I agree, what's the point in the huge amount of bar space if you're all going to get into a single file snake through the building.
A new one on me, and like you I agree, what's the point in the huge amount of bar space if you're all going to get into a single file snake through the building.
To be fair, having worked in a pub, it is not always easy to work out who is next to be served when you are working in s busy bar. When you are flying around serving drinks you cannot always clock the order in which customers turn up. Nothing worse than a load of bricks
thousedockers (the bar was opposite a container port) getting agitated at not being served in order.
Also queuing leaves the bar area free for those that prefer to sit or stand at the bar rather than a table.

Also queuing leaves the bar area free for those that prefer to sit or stand at the bar rather than a table.
Queuing - you get served in turn
Not queuing - hopefully you'll get served in turn, you probably won't unless the bartender has an amazing memory. (Even less likely if there are 2 or 3 bar staff serving) which means that you get irritated/annoyed/angry depending on how many people get served before you.
Not queuing - hopefully you'll get served in turn, you probably won't unless the bartender has an amazing memory. (Even less likely if there are 2 or 3 bar staff serving) which means that you get irritated/annoyed/angry depending on how many people get served before you.
A bizarre concept that originated during Covid.
Has it's own dedicated 'X' account.
https://x.com/QueuesPub
Has it's own dedicated 'X' account.
https://x.com/QueuesPub
Slow.Patrol said:
To be fair, having worked in a pub, it is not always easy to work out who is next to be served when you are working in s busy bar. When you are flying around serving drinks you cannot always clock the order in which customers turn up. Nothing worse than a load of bricks
thousedockers (the bar was opposite a container port) getting agitated at not being served in order.
Also queuing leaves the bar area free for those that prefer to sit or stand at the bar rather than a table.
Plus we avoid the stupid American scenario where the barman serves those first based on how much you previously tipped (which really gets on my tits!!).
Also queuing leaves the bar area free for those that prefer to sit or stand at the bar rather than a table.
Personally, I do away with bar service all together, only encourages the lushes who want to prop it up. Table service every time if I could, not an app either. People, employed, moving about it, earning money etc.
Anyway, queuing TBH it's pretty efficient, but it depends. Quiet pub, seems a bit mad. 3 deep at the bar and it's the way to go.
Plus we're British, if someone forms a queue, I'm not going to be the one who says "no, this is not how it's done, I'm going to stand at the bar".
Anyway, queuing TBH it's pretty efficient, but it depends. Quiet pub, seems a bit mad. 3 deep at the bar and it's the way to go.
Plus we're British, if someone forms a queue, I'm not going to be the one who says "no, this is not how it's done, I'm going to stand at the bar".
I think its a Wetherspoons thing. I walked into The Pommelers Rest (just south of Tower Bridge) and walked up to an empty bar. A barman appeared and stood at the till as asked what I wanted. He wanted me to walk to the till tell him what I wanted, accept payment, then he would pour my drink, very odd.
In hindsight I assume people queue at the till for their drinks.
In hindsight I assume people queue at the till for their drinks.
Countdown said:
Queuing - you get served in turn
Not queuing - hopefully you'll get served in turn, you probably won't unless the bartender has an amazing memory. (Even less likely if there are 2 or 3 bar staff serving) which means that you get irritated/annoyed/angry depending on how many people get served before you.
You go to your local and the staff will serve you while they are serving someone else at the same time.Not queuing - hopefully you'll get served in turn, you probably won't unless the bartender has an amazing memory. (Even less likely if there are 2 or 3 bar staff serving) which means that you get irritated/annoyed/angry depending on how many people get served before you.
Can't say I've noticed this, but then again I haven't been to the pub in years. Last one I've been at was 'spoons wharf. There's never a queue. Most people tend to order a round via the app to have it sent to their table. It's slow. I can go to the toilet and get my next drink in the time it takes them to bring them their round.
Yes! I've noticed this too OP and don't understand where it's come from. Similarly I stand at the bar and order a pint and everyone in the queue looks puzzled.
Maybe it's a hangover from covid - people stopped going to bars so forgot how they work. Or the young people first going to bars had a weird experience so have never recovered.
Maybe it's a hangover from covid - people stopped going to bars so forgot how they work. Or the young people first going to bars had a weird experience so have never recovered.
silverfoxcc said:
Did Bar work years ago, was told by the gaffer, when i asked about who do i know whose next, start at one end abd work towards the other. Clock the guy next to the one you are serving, nod and say you're next.. and so one, locals get use to it, abs aekf police the bar... i dus, abd ut dies
So it be onto this. 
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