People have started queuing for drinks in pubs and it’s tearing the nation apart – 19 responses worth raising a glass to
British people love a queue. But this is going too far.
Some of you might have noticed a disturbing new trend at pubs across the country. Instead of the traditional mosh of people at a bar trying to order, people are lining up in single file to get served.
It could be a hangover from the Covid period. But such is the scale of the issue, there’s a Twitter account @QueuesPub to document the new social scourge.
Great work from West Beer in Glasgow
Great location for a beer pic.twitter.com/0pO6is4ZYM
— pub_queues (@QueuesPub) June 16, 2024
Maybe it’s just a London thing for now – tsk, typical London – but this could be spreading to a boozer near you very soon, unless we act now.
I’ve started seeing it recently in Mcr & Leeds. Each time I walk up to the bar like I have done for the last 27 years of going in boozers, and get served immediately by barmen who thank you for not being a complete weirdo.
— adam (@ad_lew_) June 7, 2024
@QueuesPub
The Archway Tavern Islington. Currently 16 strong! pic.twitter.com/04bhc1lVZ6— wellyousaythat© (@realarsenalism) June 20, 2024
Because, while we live in divisive, polarised times, surely we can all agree that is utter madness? Frankly it should be an election issue.
@QueuesPub words need having at EMA pic.twitter.com/tODp40P8r2
— James (@jh_dcfc) June 8, 2024
One example that went viral on X this week came from a user named Matt in Woolwich.
Arrived at pub (Dial Arch, Woolwich) to be met with a queue so just walked to the front and got served. One barmaid made a fuss and some waiting stood open-mouthed but bloke served me. Told the line we weren’t in a Post Office then walked off with my pint! Fight back! @QueuesPub pic.twitter.com/u571HwKZbx
— Matt W (@MattinW00lwich) June 25, 2024
A lot of people are willing to take up the fight.
1.
I was just there at the weekend and found the whole queue just entirely bizarre. My partner skipped it too.
— Shiv Malik (@shivmalik) June 26, 2024
2.
I’m afraid if you check @QueuesPub timeline you’ll see that this has sadly spread around the country.
— Matt W (@MattinW00lwich) June 26, 2024
3.
Since when did this bollocks about queuing in a pub begin? It drives me crazy. I walk straight up to the bar everytime, and frequently get served. The staff look at the queue and just roll their eyes.
— stephen howell (@stephen_howell6) June 25, 2024
4.
Surelynproplemup north don’t queue up in pubs like they’re waiting to get their passport stamped? How old are you and how long have you been going to pubs? Seriously, in your life have you ever seen people queue up in a pub like this before?
— Matt W (@MattinW00lwich) June 26, 2024
5.
Tim Martin of Spoons is against queues and so am I. When you speak to your fellow customers and agree with each other who’s next, you make new friends. Also, I blame phone payment. Waving a bank note at the barmaid helps.
— Andrew Denny (@albiondumsday) June 25, 2024
6.
Mine too but I’m a millennial and I’m afraid a lot of boomers seem to be going along with the queuing, probably because despite being a well-off and cosseted generation they are generally quite compliant and susceptible to herd behaviour.
— Matt W (@MattinW00lwich) June 26, 2024
7.
When I worked in a pub you managed the space and people and could serve several at once by setting a few pints going, grab any bottles, pull pints in stages then top them up to finish. I think it’s partly bar staff training.
— Matt W (@MattinW00lwich) June 26, 2024
8.
As it should be. These amateur drinkers need to learn proper pub etiquette. Queuing is for old biddies in the Post Office waiting to collect their pension, not thirsty punters who need a beer.
— Lordski! (@MPC3675) June 26, 2024
9.
What I tend to do is walk towards a till. A bar person has to go there. If I know people were there ahead of me I give them the international sign (the nod) for them to go ahead of me. A queue only really works at a small side hatch.
— DB77 (@DBW77) June 26, 2024