The trick is to be confident, not cocky. Stand where staff can see you, make eye contact and know what you want to order. If one of those drinks is a Guinness, say so upfront rather than tacking it on the end: it takes longer to pour and needs time to settle. Let anyone who was there before you go first – that small act of fairness matters more than you might think. Still not getting served? Upgrade to a half-smile or eyebrow raise to communicate silently with the bartender.
“Just respect your fellow pub-goers and bar staff, it’s quite simple,” says Gillian Hough, vice-chair of Camra, the Campaign for Real Ale. “Sometimes staff magically know who arrived at a busy bar first, but often it requires honesty from you, the customer. Be patient and wait your turn.”
Rule #2: Order at the bar, unless someone tells you otherwise
In other parts of the world, people are used to opening a tab, settling in and ordering through waitstaff. In a British pub, the default is simpler: you go to the bar.
That remains true even if you are sitting at a table and even if the pub serves food. Unless a member of staff explicitly says table service is available, assume it is not. If you wait to be served where you are sitting, you may be waiting a long time.
Quick pub survival guide
– Be aware of the order of people waiting to be served
– Order at the bar unless someone tells you otherwise
– Don’t wave money, click your fingers or try to hack the system
– Buy in rounds – but know when you can opt out
– Don’t expect American-style tipping or tabs
