Photograghs that reflect a pub experience

[Lady Grey]

http://forums.pubsgalore.co.uk/showthread.php?30193-Photo-suppression-Email-notifications-to-contributors
Following on from the discussion about submitting poor photos to Pubs Galore, has anyone ever been tempted to submit photos of a pub, depending on what kind of experience they have had there? For example few weeks ago, I experienced one of the most uncomfortable half hours of my life, trying to photograph a pub. I won't go into too many details, but it was the landlord's attitude towards me photographing the pub, that left a bitter taste! That and the fact, that there was not one decent ale available! Don't get me wrong, I was polite to the landlord, but nothing I said made any difference. I was sorely tempted to post a really poor photo of the pub, but didn't.

[RealAleRobUK]

To be honest I tend to try and keep it quick and discreet when taking photos, to avoid the potential for the kind of experience referred to above.

I am not sure if it was on this site or elsewhere, but I have heard of some contributors who ask the landlord first and offer to put a small contribution in the charity pot which has helped prevent a potentially hostile response. That approach probably works better when the pub is quiet and you want to take a lot of interior shots.

I'm not sure I would deliberately submit a poor photo of a pub because of a bad experience, however it is equally possible that if you felt uncomfortable and rushed then your photo may not have turned out as well as you hoped, so it could be an unintended consequence. That kind of experience is probably best summed up in the review though, in my opinion (and watch you don't get accused of "having a rant" while you're at it).

[Tris39]

To be honest I tend to try and keep it quick and discreet when taking photos, to avoid the potential for the kind of experience referred to above.

I am not sure if it was on this site or elsewhere, but I have heard of some contributors who ask the landlord first and offer to put a small contribution in the charity pot which has helped prevent a potentially hostile response. That approach probably works better when the pub is quiet and you want to take a lot of interior shots.

I'm not sure I would deliberately submit a poor photo of a pub because of a bad experience, however it is equally possible that if you felt uncomfortable and rushed then your photo may not have turned out as well as you hoped, so it could be an unintended consequence. That kind of experience is probably best summed up in the review though, in my opinion (and watch you don't get accused of "having a rant" while you're at it).

Good point. I really don't like it when people assume that they can just take a photo and include me in the picture; it doesn't surprise me one bit if landlords get shirty.

I took a photo of an enormous mouse to reflect my experience of drinking in The Prince Alfred (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/22729/) the other day, with huge glowing satanic eyes - it hasn't been approved yet.:whistle:

[london calling]

If you are taking interior pictures you should ask permission.There are a couple of Camra pub tickers who on their blog publish pictures of pub goers in the background on the pretext that they are taking pictures of their pint.Not right imo.

[Lady Grey]

Regarding the photos that I took of the pub in question. I was on the oppisite side of the road, when I started taking photos, there was no one in sight. Suddenly a man appeared, I thought he was going to drive off in his car, instead he went back inside the pub. My mistake was to go into the pub after I had finished taking photos. I sometimes buy a drink out of courtesy. Unfortunately the man behind the bar, was the chap outside that spotted me. He was not in a good mood!

[AlanH]

Regarding the photos that I took of the pub in question. I was on the oppisite side of the road, when I started taking photos, there was no one in sight. Suddenly a man appeared, I thought he was going to drive off in his car, instead he went back inside the pub. My mistake was to go into the pub after I had finished taking photos. I sometimes buy a drink out of courtesy. Unfortunately the man behind the bar, was the chap outside that spotted me. He was not in a good mood!

I was told that if you are outside a premises in a public place, you are entitled to take any picture. In spite of that, I have been challenged by landlords three times in the Wrexham area. The first time, I went into the pub afterwards and the landlord asked why I was taking a picture of his pub. I said it was a hobby but he was not pleased.
I read later in a newspaper that he had been fined for playing music without a licence. I guess he thought I was a reporter snooping around. Another time I was taking an internal picture of a pub. The landlord (who was showing big screen football) asked if I was from Sky TV. I laughed and said no. He kept insisting which told me his TV was not legal. He asked me to delete my picture. I deleted one of the three! The third landlord just had a moan for an unknown reason after my outside picture.

[bcfczuluarmy]

My mate gets grief when I take pictures on entry and he's at the bar while I'm photographing and now suggests I take them on exit as punters ask awkward questions while I look like a weirdo and landlords/landlady's think the pub is about to be marketed for sale. My general answer is I take a picture of all pubs I go in to remember where I've been for a pint. Water off a ducks back as generally never going back to most places I take a picture of or if I do I don't take a new picture unless it's had a paint job.

He also tries to say I take pictures for a website (PuG) and have X amount of photos, never close to actual amount but he tries. I then arrive and correct the figure and diffuse the red dot on my chest. Best one was a H&S nightmare I took a picture of in a pub car park purely for my intrigue and amusement and the landlord was hoping I wouldn't post the picture online.

[sheffield hatter]

I was once accused of photographing the alarm on the wall of the pub, preparatory to returning later for a spot of burglery!

[Quinno]

I was once accused of photographing the alarm on the wall of the pub, preparatory to returning later for a spot of burglery!

Similar angle here, I got a bit of gyp for photgraphing the inside of one place, though to be fair a load of stuff inside was quite valuable and they'd had attempted burglaries recently. Luckily I could show them the PuG website and all was resolved amicably :)

[Aqualung]

I was once accused of photographing the alarm on the wall of the pub, preparatory to returning later for a spot of burglery!


See my review of this (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/34396/) to read about the day I was accused of being the Papparazzi.

[Thuck Phat]

Did you get away with it?:D

[Aqualung]

Did you get away with it?:D

Yes, it was all good natured and became the day's joke. There had been a lock in the night before!

[Tris39]

I was told that if you are outside a premises in a public place, you are entitled to take any picture. In spite of that, I have been challenged by landlords three times in the Wrexham area. The first time, I went into the pub afterwards and the landlord asked why I was taking a picture of his pub. I said it was a hobby but he was not pleased.
I read later in a newspaper that he had been fined for playing music without a licence. I guess he thought I was a reporter snooping around. Another time I was taking an internal picture of a pub. The landlord (who was showing big screen football) asked if I was from Sky TV. I laughed and said no. He kept insisting which told me his TV was not legal. He asked me to delete my picture. I deleted one of the three! The third landlord just had a moan for an unknown reason after my outside picture.

Indeed. All of these apply.

Primarily, a person is quite entitled to take a photo of anything from a public place, without fear of molestation.
A pub's interior is private property and in the main, I don't take interior photos as it's just not good manners to do so without permission, particularly if pics are going to include images of customers. Some just don't want their privacy invaded by endless group photos, selfies and the like; I just get sick of the group photo binges due to the constant flashbulbs going off, particularly in one instance when a person produced a Canon EOS 1D with a flashgun with a greater output than a lighthouse and began firing this thing off like a machinegun.
Of course there's the issue that some may think we are casing the joint and are recording valuables or security weaknesses but in the case of people, some might not want photographing because they may think that we are the Authorities keeping tabs on suspected criminals or dole dodgers.
Others may think that we are acting on behalf of prospective property developers. I remember around 2004 I was photographing some rather rundown high-rise buildings near The Wenlock as part of a project to document architecture of the period. I was accosted by some locals and asked when Islington council was going to undertake much-needed repairs. When I told them that I didn't work for the council and was just photographing the particular style of architecture, they though I must be mad.
If I plan on visiting a pub and taking an exterior photo, the simple way of avoiding any potential problem is to visit the pub first and then photograph it on leaving.

[Tris39]

I was once accused of photographing the alarm on the wall of the pub, preparatory to returning later for a spot of burglery!


Similar angle here, I got a bit of gyp for photgraphing the inside of one place, though to be fair a load of stuff inside was quite valuable and they'd had attempted burglaries recently. Luckily I could show them the PuG website and all was resolved amicably :)

You ain't seen pub valuables until you've drunk in The Gunton Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/78764/) - ££££££££.

[RealAleRobUK]

If I plan on visiting a pub and taking an exterior photo, the simple way of avoiding any potential problem is to visit the pub first and then photograph it on leaving.

Tip of the day here folks, and something I tend to do myself.

You can't get a funny look once you've left the building!

[Tris39]

Tip of the day here folks, and something I tend to do myself.

You can't get a funny look once you've left the building!

Indeed. Pointing a camera at a pub - and possibly some suspect types having a fag outside - could be a recipe for trouble if we then go marching in; questions may well be asked and not always politely either.:eek:

[Real Ale Ray]

Indeed. Pointing a camera at a pub - and possibly some suspect types having a fag outside - could be a recipe for trouble if we then go marching in; questions may well be asked and not always politely either.:eek:

Oh dear, I recall Mrs Ale having a similar experience whilst taking a picture of a pub in Stratford on Avon. After taking the photo from across the road, we heard a string of expletives from a fag smoker outside the pub who appeared out of nowhere. We hadn't intended going in anyway. Needless to say, we made a hasty exit...

[rpadam]

You can't get a funny look once you've left the building!
Although they can try to chase you down in a car, which happened to me once (although thankfully my route to the next stop involved a short length of footpath that confounded the pursuers...) but what on earth had they done to be worried about to provoke that extreme reaction?

[RealAleRobUK]

Although they can try to chase you down in a car, which happened to me once (although thankfully my route to the next stop involved a short length of footpath that confounded the pursuers...) but what on earth had they done to be worried about to provoke that extreme reaction?

Bloody hell, who'd have thought taking some pub photos would be such a dangerous business?

I'm guessing you must have disturbed some local drug dealers or something to get that kind of reaction.

[rpadam]

There was also another occasion on an early Pubs Galore crawl (or possibly a day trip involving a few Pubs Galore members) where an irate landlord came chasing out of their premises and accosted us when we were by then some distance away. Something about a dispute with the pubco was the reason, if I recall, and he thought we were spying on him.

[Tris39]

Oh dear, I recall Mrs Ale having a similar experience whilst taking a picture of a pub in Stratford on Avon. After taking the photo from across the road, we heard a string of expletives from a fag smoker outside the pub who appeared out of nowhere. We hadn't intended going in anyway. Needless to say, we made a hasty exit...

Yup! This is why so many of my photos are taken at such awkward angles, having walked past a pub and received a look from a smoker which says 'Don't even think about pointing that camera at me!'.


I'm guessing you must have disturbed some local drug dealers or something to get that kind of reaction.

Sounds likely. I'm not sure if the goings on behind the scenes at Oxford's Old Black Horse are completely legit - I've never drunk up and left a place so hastily in my life.