Drinkers across the UK have expressed their bewilderment over a new trend emerging in pubs, where long single file queues have become increasingly common. This trend has disrupted the traditional pub etiquette of patrons standing at the bar to order their drinks. Instead, customers are now forming orderly queues that stretch throughout the establishment, prompting many regulars to voice their disapproval and dub it a new ‘epidemic’.
From upscale bars in London to popular Wetherspoon locations, this trend has quickly spread nationwide. Customers have reported encountering single file queues at various pubs such as The Pear Tree in Edinburgh, The Woolpack in Norwich, and The Watering Hole in Perranporth. The origins of this new practice can be traced back to the Covid era when pubs had to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
While single file queues are a part of British culture, opinions are divided on whether they belong in pubs. Some believe that the camaraderie of gathering around the bar has been lost, affecting the lively atmosphere inside. A representative from the Waterloo Tap in London shared, “I miss the days of gathering around the bar, but after Covid, the single file queue has become the norm.”
Drinkers have taken to social media to express their discontent with one user stating, “I just don’t get this,” while another called it “obscene.” Rod Truan, who campaigns against single file queues in pubs, lamented the shift, highlighting the loss of the social aspect that defines British pub culture.
As the debate on the place of single file queues in pubs continues, it remains to be seen whether this trend is here to stay or just a passing phase in the ever-evolving pub scene across the UK.