From the southernmost tip of England to the highest points of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and all points in between, the United Kingdom is home to around 50,000 pubs.
Similar to eating at a brasserie or café in France, downing a liter stein of beer at a beer garden in Germany, or indulging in enormous portions of fried food in the United States, pubs are an essential aspect of British culture and social life. They are a significant component of the trip experience for tourists.
However, it’s crucial to remember to check your cultural norms and presumptions about drinking and eating at the door when you enter a British pub.
You might be amazed and upset by the response (or, more realistically, lack thereof) if you do things like go straight to your table and sit down and expect a server to come to get your order or if you attempt to strike up a conversation with an English person at random. British pub etiquette can seem daunting, but we’ve covered you with these easy-to-follow guidelines.
Contents
Round ‘n’ ‘round’
When a British person approaches you to order drinks while you’re out drinking with them, don’t take out your wallet and place some crumpled British currency on the table to pay for your drink. “C’mon mate, stop being so American,” you could hear.
The custom of exchanging drinks in a bar in England is as holy to British culture as the royal family’s slagging off or the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
It’s common to take turns purchasing each round whether you’re out at a bar with a group of individuals or even just one other person.
If you’re in the middle of a lengthy drinking session with a large group and you think you can get away without purchasing a round, the British are aware and are discreetly keeping track of who has and hasn’t had their turn.
They consider it pub blasphemy to try to avoid purchasing a round with a bunch of British people, and you will be banished from the group.
Place Your Order at the Bar
Seeing a small group of individuals enter a British pub, settle down at a table, and then impatiently wait for a waitress to arrive to take their orders is a revealing sight. This isn’t The United States. It’s the United Kingdom. You place your order at the bar here.
This rule isn’t often followed, especially in Northern Ireland, but if you’re at a pub and want a drink then go straight to the bar and place your order. This is advantageous to the drinker.
You don’t have to wait for the busy waitress to come around if you want another drink. You can head straight to the bar and get your drink whenever you want it instead. Additionally, it lets you follow another British drinking custom: buying rounds in turn.
Speak, Don’t Speak
One of the few locations in the nation where local British people may feel free to let go of their culturally conditioned coldness is the bar counter. Therefore, feel free to strike up a conversation with someone while you’re waiting to place your order at the bar.
If you’re meeting a British individual for the first time, there’s a certain manner to introduce yourself. It is unlikely that you will make many new friends in England by outstretching your hand and introducing yourself as Bob from Dubuque. Instead, comment on the weather or the worn-out Oasis song that’s playing less ostentatiously or cleverly.
Take a couple of Delegates to the Bar
Don’t rush to the bar after you’ve been placed at a comfortable booth or table. It will overwhelm the barman. The other customers who are ordering drinks will be irritated. And all you’ll do is create confusion.
Rather, designate a leader to gather everyone’s drink orders before approaching the bar, perhaps the person whose turn it is to purchase a round. The bar counter is one of the few areas where there appears to be chaos, even though Brits generally enjoy standing in line.
However, it isn’t disordered. Everybody at the bar, including the barman and customers, is mentally aware of who will come next.
So please don’t whistle, clap your hands, snap your fingers, holler at the barman, or do anything else like that. Even if you are not aware of it, everyone knows when it will be your turn. Your order time will arrive, so have patience!
Be Aware of Your Desires
The barman will move on to the next customer if you stand at the bar and eventually attract their attention, but you take too long to determine what you want or enquire, “What kind of beers do you have?” while the taps are directly in front of you.
Make sure your order is ready as you walk up to the bar. A “beer” would be equivalent to ordering “pasta” at an Italian restaurant, “sausage” at a German beer hall, or “a glass of wine” at a Rioja tapas bar.
Before ordering a “pint” (the correct term for ordering a beer in Britain), attempt to acquire a sense of what you want from the variety available. You can request a lager, pale ale, bitter, stout, or porter, among other types of beer, if you’re still unsure about your preferred brand.
If a pint of Guinness is included in your order, make sure to ask for it first because the two-part pour that includes Guinness takes a long time.
Don’t Use the Tip
Tipping at a British pub is not required, yet it may feel strange and uncomfortable if you’re an American. Because 1) the British can be a little frugal with money and 2) tipping is a part of your culture, not theirs, some bartenders and publicans despise it.
Pub Closing Time in the UK
Pubs in the UK close at 11 pm and a handful close at midnight on weekends. About 20 minutes prior to closing time, the barman yells out, “Last orders,” and they mean it. At approximately 11:20 p.m., the barman may cry, “Drinking-up time,” which indicates that it’s time to leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which drink in a British pub should I order?
If you want something local, look at what the regulars at the pub are drinking. They’re likely to be enjoying a local brew, cider, or even a perry, which is a pear cider that’s popular in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire.
As you enter the village living room, it is important to note that you are not required to order any alcoholic beverages. It won’t bother anyone to ask for a Coke or coffee!
How can I place a drink order at a pub in Britain?
When they walk into a pub, many patrons make the mistake of sitting down at a table right away. Unfortunately, bars do not wait on tables for drinks, so if you do this, you’ll end up thirsty. You’ll have to go to the pub!
Conclusion
To sum up, here are the guidelines that apply to UK bars. The closing times of pubs and the tipping customs of the British and Americans differ slightly. Going into the pub knowing a few rules is a good idea.
You will quickly become proficient at engaging in small talk with the locals if you follow the seven rules of British pubs listed above.