'It's ridiculous': publicans bemused by rise of single-file queues to get served(theguardian.com)
theguardian.com
'It's ridiculous': publicans bemused by rise of single-file queues to get served
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jan/31/publicans-bemused-single-file-queue-trend-pubs
23 comments
The traditional way of ordering a drink at a bar requires a small degree of engagement with your fellow patrons and bar staff. In my experience people under 30 just don't want to 'engage' with strangers: make eye contact, smile, make small talk. I've noticed this in the work place with younger colleagues and with hospitality staff in general. It's not surprising they would prefer to form a queue and take their turn before hurrying back to the safety of their group of friends.
Perhaps we need a public information film as to how to queue.
They had one for playing in dumped fridges, swimming in deep water, or playing frisbee next to an HV transformer.
Maybe there’re a couple of other things that need a Public information film for contemporary times. Such as “don’t use a VPN”, or how to travel to the USA without ending up in manacles.
They had one for playing in dumped fridges, swimming in deep water, or playing frisbee next to an HV transformer.
Maybe there’re a couple of other things that need a Public information film for contemporary times. Such as “don’t use a VPN”, or how to travel to the USA without ending up in manacles.
Stop putting card machines in a single place… till in the back was the key.
> “Maybe there’s something I’ve missed, but we’ve tried everything.”
Even after reading the article, I'm not sure I understand why they care so much. You've got a queue of people wanting to give you money. Just take it and serve them drinks. Why do these pubs care how people queue up?
To me, it seems like a good step forward. I never liked the mode most bars/pubs operate in, where you need to push and muscle your way up to the bar, squeezed in sideways next to everyone else, trying to get the bartender's attention. A queue seems much more orderly and civilized.
Imagine if fast food restaurants worked the way bars worked: Instead of waiting in line, everyone just mashes themselves up to the counter waving cash around and shouting their burger orders to whoever's attention they can capture...
Even after reading the article, I'm not sure I understand why they care so much. You've got a queue of people wanting to give you money. Just take it and serve them drinks. Why do these pubs care how people queue up?
To me, it seems like a good step forward. I never liked the mode most bars/pubs operate in, where you need to push and muscle your way up to the bar, squeezed in sideways next to everyone else, trying to get the bartender's attention. A queue seems much more orderly and civilized.
Imagine if fast food restaurants worked the way bars worked: Instead of waiting in line, everyone just mashes themselves up to the counter waving cash around and shouting their burger orders to whoever's attention they can capture...
The article says its hurting business. Its also an inefficent use of space and blocks throughfares. The space is designed with the lateral queues in mind.
The traditional arrangement is not a ‘lateral queue’, however, but, as the article points out, everyone standing and letting the bartender choose the order. And as someone who is read as queer and undesirable in Ireland (as far as I can tell), and read as desirable in London, in my experience that arrangement is very different than a queue.
I think the issue it the (literal) "head-of-line blocking". Some requests can be processed either "concurrently" like tapping a beer from a keg or in parallel by having multiple bartenders, but having all people standing strictly in line makes this difficult.
Certainly in Irish pubs you wouldn't want the queue blocked while waiting a few minutes for a Guinness to "settle" before it can be served.
I think fast food workers might finally start getting tips in that system.
We shouldn't be tipping anyone, I don't understand the fascination with perpetuating a system that encourages employers not to pay a living wage.
Cough up a buck, you cheap bastard. I paid for breakfast.
Americans are tipping literal ATMs. It's out of hand. The employer should be paying the salary of the servers - unless you are living in some kind of failed socialist state?
You're just speeding up those jobs getting replaced by robots with that attitude, but I guess it's just a question of when not if at this point.
Should we tip the robots too?
Only if they really put forth an effort.
In a way, that's somewhat my point.
The tip isn't the problem, the expectation that the tip will occur and thus salaries can be lowered as a result of it - is.
The tip isn't the problem, the expectation that the tip will occur and thus salaries can be lowered as a result of it - is.
It’s not COVID, it’s the rise of technology-enabled orderliness and reward for planning ahead, like ordering food and drinks ahead for pickup, or booking the specific seats you want at the theater, and growing expectations that such orderliness is present.
> electing to wait in a single file line, standing one behind the other, before being called forward to order as if going through border control.
This is such a ridiculous comparison that it torpedoes any credibility this article might have had.
You know where else you get this kind of queuing behavior? At a supermarket checkout.
This is such a ridiculous comparison that it torpedoes any credibility this article might have had.
You know where else you get this kind of queuing behavior? At a supermarket checkout.
Strongly agree and want to pile on with some more very normal times to queue politely:
- waiting to get food at a quick service restaurant
- waiting to get into a show
- waiting for the bathroom in a public place
- merging while driving in traffic
Any time there is an uncoordinated mass of folks on a limited resource it helps simplify things all around for a FIFO process. The chaotic "sharpest elbows wins" approach being better is the exception not the rule.
- waiting to get food at a quick service restaurant
- waiting to get into a show
- waiting for the bathroom in a public place
- merging while driving in traffic
Any time there is an uncoordinated mass of folks on a limited resource it helps simplify things all around for a FIFO process. The chaotic "sharpest elbows wins" approach being better is the exception not the rule.
My hypothesis is that it's due to phones. Waiting in a single row queue became much less painless so the younger ones prefer even to be on the phone and wait in line. Actually, the more chaotic types of "lines" make it more difficult to just be on the phone while waiting.
Impacted by phones removal of the pain of being in a queue sure. Due to phones seems to ignore all the comments that this "came out of nowhere" and wasn't seen before "2020".
It seems most likely that with pubs not so active over the pandemic, then operating with more socially distanced rules, new pub users just never learnt the "only used in pubs queueing system".
Which is a weird blindspot for the article, where they reference a normal queue as something from "border control", rather than then thing you do everywhere but the pub. Without the introduction to the system they just use the system they use everywhere else. And don't worry it takes longer because it's a convenient time to check your phone.
It seems most likely that with pubs not so active over the pandemic, then operating with more socially distanced rules, new pub users just never learnt the "only used in pubs queueing system".
Which is a weird blindspot for the article, where they reference a normal queue as something from "border control", rather than then thing you do everywhere but the pub. Without the introduction to the system they just use the system they use everywhere else. And don't worry it takes longer because it's a convenient time to check your phone.
Half the time I pick a spot at the bar the bar staff decides it's time to slowly empty the dishwasher and walk in circles.
Screw that, I'll just queue and wait to be called by staff that'll serve me.
If the bar is functional it doesn't really matter if people are queuing cause they are leaving it so fast.
Screw that, I'll just queue and wait to be called by staff that'll serve me.
If the bar is functional it doesn't really matter if people are queuing cause they are leaving it so fast.