Pub-goers across the Midlands are raising eyebrows at a disturbing new trend: queuing in single file at the bar. What some see as good British manners, others view as a disruption to pub culture. I'm here on the streets to investigate whether the tradition of spreading out along the bar is being replaced.
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00:00Well I think the pub should be traditional. It's part of the fun, all somebody's got to serve before me and whatever.
00:07The single queue thing, that's like being at school, that's like queuing up for your school dinner.
00:12No, don't like it, not at all. It should go, remain as it was.
00:16Yeah, I think just stick to tradition because at the end of the day, we're not in school.
00:21We walk into a bar, it's like you're walking into your own home.
00:26You've been welcomed, if you know what I mean, so you should be just able to walk up to the bar and order a drink.
00:31I think I prefer spreading out, particularly if you've got one or more people serving.
00:36You might have somebody in front who's got a big order and someone might have a small order, so spreading helps.
00:42As long as they keep moving around and are aware of where people are, I think that's fine.
00:45So I think as a customer, if you queue in, it's a lot easier because you know when you're going to get served.
00:52But if you're all just sat around, it could take a long time to get your drinks or whatever.
00:57I feel tradition, that's the better way forward. It's always been a matter of scrambling for the bar.
01:01It's that battle royale of who gets served next, really.
01:04You've always got that etiquette of if someone's there before you, you can be like, oh no, he's first.
01:10But I wouldn't say queuing is the way to do it because that's just not how it goes, not here.
01:15For us, we get to the bar and it's just a scramble.
01:17Single file, especially when you're working at a pub, less mess.
01:22It's more convenient, isn't it?
01:24People bringing drinks on trays and that.
01:28Less room's better, especially if you're working. But we're saying it from a working point of view.
01:33However, I feel like it's more homely. It feels cozier if everyone's surrounding it.
01:40It's definitely a change in culture. Obviously, I haven't seen that. I'm not too used to that.
01:46I think etiquette's fine. I think that's quite ethical.
01:50You're looking out for other people, I suppose.
01:53But tradition's tradition. You don't have to be doing that.
01:57If that makes sense.