Snaking at the bar

[Spinko]

I used to think this was a once only sight. People queueing at the bar by snaking from a single focal point at the bar right around to the door and in some cases out of it, rather than using the full length of the bar.

http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/utilities/action/act_download.cfm?mediaid=20605

However I have now seen it once since. Please tell me this will not spread. :sick:

[sheffield hatter]

I've seen it a few times at the University Arms (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/66867/) in Sheffield, but it never gets more than about eight or ten deep. I just go to the bar and wait my turn.

[Strongers]

I’ve seen snaking once at the Tiger Inn in East Dean and like SH I went to the bar and waited to be served. I think that the problem was that the kitchen was about to close and there was a rush of food orders that had to be done at the till. Some dinlows just ordering drinks didn’t realise that it was a food queue.

[Quinno]

I used to think this was a once only sight. People queueing at the bar by snaking from a single focal point at the bar right around to the door and in some cases out of it, rather than using the full length of the bar.

http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/utilities/action/act_download.cfm?mediaid=20605

However I have now seen it once since. Please tell me this will not spread. :sick:

ahem: http://aberpubs.blogspot.co.uk/2007/10/yr-hen-orsaf-old-station.html :D

[Spinko]

ahem: http://aberpubs.blogspot.co.uk/2007/10/yr-hen-orsaf-old-station.html :D

"Service is usually grindingly slow, be prepared to wait 10 minutes at the bar on a Friday/Saturday night because of the bizarre single-file queuing (presumably because of that damned pillar by the bar). "

Why does the method of queueing make service slower? (a bit of pedantry, but I would agree things seem to slow down stupidly when the snake gets curling)

[oldboots]

Surely the Welsh have just realised that 'spoons staff are so slow and totally unable to work out who's next to be served that they have taken the pragmatic approach and made it easy on the poor fools? Maybe JDW should go the whole hog and do like the Post Office with a marked out path to the counter?

[Alesonly]

Surely the Welsh have just realised that 'spoons staff are so slow and totally unable to work out who's next to be served that they have taken the pragmatic approach and made it easy on the poor fools? Maybe JDW should go the whole hog and do like the Post Office with a marked out path to the counter?

Dont give them too many Ideas or they might want you to take a ticket next. Then wait too be called when you number appears above the bar..:D

[Oggwyn Trench]

It happens at two of the spoons around here , the Shrewsbury Hotel usually on a Saturday afternoon when the pub is busy and they only have two bar staff on , yet on a quiet Wednesday they will have three :confused:
The William Withering in Wellington has a queue at busy times and if you just walk up to the bar for a pint you are told abruptly to join the queue :moremad:...... i dont go in there very often .....sod em

[Mobyduck]

It happens at two of the spoons around here , the Shrewsbury Hotel usually on a Saturday afternoon when the pub is busy and they only have two bar staff on , yet on a quiet Wednesday they will have three :confused:
The William Withering in Wellington has a queue at busy times and if you just walk up to the bar for a pint you are told abruptly to join the queue :moremad:...... i dont go in there very often .....sod em
I'm sure I remember this in The Catherine Wheel (JD Wetherspoon) (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/56961/) in Henley-on-Thames.

[Oggwyn Trench]

It would work better if they had seperate queues for people eating and people just wanting a drink , but thats probally two easy .....

[Farway]

I have never come across a queuing system in a pub, and if I ever did I would not bother and would take my money somewhere else, but maybe I am a bit provincial and the pubs round here just are not 4 deep at the bar, at least when I am in, mainly daytime

Although there was an occasion, near Chester, where mate & I popped in after work, booted & suited, collar & ties and the local populace gave us a wide berth and easy access to bar, on reflection we reckoned as we were older,& more respectable looking the local "scallys" assumed we were Police and thus avoided us

[Al 10000]

I have only seen it in the Kings Arms in York where barriers were put up and you had to snake round them,i did'nt like doing this.

I think a queuing system should be used in some of the top real ale / camra pubs where the so called top camra people hog the bar and dont move when a normal person wants a drink who then waits for camra types to finish their pints and then order another round while normal drinker is still waiting for his or her drink.
This really winds me up.

[Mobyduck]

I think a queuing system should be used in some of the top real ale / camra pubs where the so called top camra people hog the bar and dont move when a normal person wants a drink who then waits for camra types to finish their pints and then order another round while normal drinker is still waiting for his or her drink.
This really winds me up.

This isn't necessary In The Harp (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/53779/) which is normally rammed full,the staff are so efficient you are normally spotted and still served in reasonable order.

[Maldenman]

For the benefit of younger forum members, the dreaded Yates' chain were not always what they now are. They were a northern chain, called Yates' Wine Lodge, and were marketed as very basic cheap establishments for the bottom end of the market, including people who would often nowadays be street drinkers. Very spit and sawdust, basic as anything, one speciality was an "Aussie white, all-in" which was a glass of rough mega strong wine with hot water IIRC. These establishments had a queueing system, unique in any pub at the time, purely to prevent discord over slights and accusations of pushing in. Rough old places they were but not without a certain charm and fascination, and they undoubtedly provided a public service, although the drinkaware police these days would disagree.

[Strongers]

I've just arrived for a 4 night stay at Haven Holidays in Weymouth, god help me! I've managed to acquaint myself with the bar and caused utter confusion when I went to the bar without joining the queue that had formed. Still had to wait for the shandy drinkers before me to make a mockery of well established English bar etiquette.
I've got the hump already and we only got here 2 hours ago.

[Farway]

I've just arrived for a 4 night stay at Haven Holidays in Weymouth, god help me! I've managed to acquaint myself with the bar and caused utter confusion when I went to the bar without joining the queue that had formed. Still had to wait for the shandy drinkers before me to make a mockery of well established English bar etiquette.
I've got the hump already and we only got here 2 hours ago.

http://www.thegoodpubguide.co.uk/pub/view/Spyglass-DT3-6PN

http://www.thegoodpubguide.co.uk/pub/view/Sunray-DT3-6EU

HTH