Brits are queuing up like bank customers at their local pub, leaving landlords baffled. This quirky phenomenon has left many wondering why people have suddenly taken to lining up single-file behind each other before ordering a pint, akin to waiting for border control.
"I'm not sure what else we can do," admitted Paul Loebenberg of his taproom in north-west London. "We've tried everything." His bar, Wolfpack, has seen an alarming rise in customers forming these peculiar queues, disrupting the traditional pub experience where patrons simply walk up and order at their leisure.
Loebenberg's staff have had to intervene to free customers from the lines, sending them over to the bar to get served. "We've trained our guys to say: 'Please come forward, don't queue,'" he explained, frustrated by the trend. Despite efforts to adapt, there is no logical explanation for this sudden shift in pub etiquette.
Jess Riley of Wylam Brewery in Newcastle agrees that the queueing epidemic began post-pandemic. "I think it was around 2020 when people started getting really into single-file lines," she said. Her massive bar has multiple points of service, but customers still insist on queuing, much to her bar staff's dismay.
"I've argued with customers who refuse to budge from the queue because they think it's unfair," Riley confessed. "But I just say: 'The whole bar is empty; why are you standing there when there's all this space?'"
Professor John Drury of the University of Sussex believes that changes in public attitudes since the pandemic have led to a normalization of queuing behavior. He argues that adding an element of fairness to the traditional pub experience has become desirable, even if it sometimes makes no logical sense.
"Norms are neither rational nor irrational," he explained. "A norm means not only something people generally do but also what they think is right in their group." Social pressure dictates conformity, making queuing at the bar an unwelcome phenomenon for those who resist.
Even though data shows that waiting times don't decrease when queueing up, some patrons still prefer this approach, convinced they're waiting just as long as the person in front of them.
"I'm not sure what else we can do," admitted Paul Loebenberg of his taproom in north-west London. "We've tried everything." His bar, Wolfpack, has seen an alarming rise in customers forming these peculiar queues, disrupting the traditional pub experience where patrons simply walk up and order at their leisure.
Loebenberg's staff have had to intervene to free customers from the lines, sending them over to the bar to get served. "We've trained our guys to say: 'Please come forward, don't queue,'" he explained, frustrated by the trend. Despite efforts to adapt, there is no logical explanation for this sudden shift in pub etiquette.
Jess Riley of Wylam Brewery in Newcastle agrees that the queueing epidemic began post-pandemic. "I think it was around 2020 when people started getting really into single-file lines," she said. Her massive bar has multiple points of service, but customers still insist on queuing, much to her bar staff's dismay.
"I've argued with customers who refuse to budge from the queue because they think it's unfair," Riley confessed. "But I just say: 'The whole bar is empty; why are you standing there when there's all this space?'"
Professor John Drury of the University of Sussex believes that changes in public attitudes since the pandemic have led to a normalization of queuing behavior. He argues that adding an element of fairness to the traditional pub experience has become desirable, even if it sometimes makes no logical sense.
"Norms are neither rational nor irrational," he explained. "A norm means not only something people generally do but also what they think is right in their group." Social pressure dictates conformity, making queuing at the bar an unwelcome phenomenon for those who resist.
Even though data shows that waiting times don't decrease when queueing up, some patrons still prefer this approach, convinced they're waiting just as long as the person in front of them.
I think it's kinda weird that people are suddenly getting into these single-file lines at pubs. Like, what's the point? 
It's not like there's a pandemic going on or anything (although that might've contributed to the change). I mean, pubs are supposed to be chill spaces where you can just grab a pint and hang out with friends, right? But now it feels like everyone's competing for attention. 
. The pandemic has clearly had an impact on our collective sanity, and now we're all just one big, happy queue 
.
pubs are gettin weird, people are literally queuin like bank customers at their local pub and its causin a ruckus 
...i mean whats next? 
But honestly, can't we just chill out and enjoy a pint without having to be in line like it's a border crossing? Like, pubs are supposed to be places where you go to relax with friends, not wait in line for an hour 
And yeah, I feel bad for the staff who have to deal with all this. They're trying to adapt, but it's not easy when your customers just won't listen 
! Like, I remember goin' to the pub with friends and just walkin' right up to the bar, no fuss, no muss 
.
. And btw, who thought it was a good idea to add an element of fairness to the pub experience, lol 
. Now it seems like everyone's more concerned about not being rude to others than having a proper pint 
. I'm not saying I don't understand why people want fairness, but when you're waiting in line at the pub, you should be ready for a bit of craic, you know? 
or somethin'! I mean, I get it, the pandemic did change people's behavior and all that jazz 
, but single-file lines? 
Come on, guys! It's just a pub! You can order at the bar like everyone else, no need to form a line like border control 
Some people think it's 'fair', but honestly, who really cares about bein' in line when the whole bar is empty? 
i went to a pub last month and it was like everyone was stuck in some kinda zombie apocalypse... single file line stretching all the way across the room... my friends and i were literally laughing at each other, wondering what's going on here?! 
it's all about social norms and being part of the group... but honestly, can't we just be ourselves in a pub again? 
People have gone from chillin' at their local to being super strict about lines... I'm kinda with it tho 
... and no one knows why they're doing it 
... And don't even get me started on how annoying it is for the staff 
... I mean, can't they just use some basic common sense and let everyone order when they're ready? 
... People like to follow the crowd and conform to these weird new norms