I walk into one of my local ‘Spoons. There is a queue at one of the at least 14ft long bars. I go to the bar, am served immediately and then say ‘Excuse me’ as I want to get to the rest of the pub.
Someone states,’There is a queue’ to which I reply, ‘Yes, what are you queueing for?’ The conversation continues with others joining in.
‘We are waiting to be served’
‘But there is a whole bar free, why are you queuing?’
‘ Because you always queue in Wetherspoons and other pubs’
I’ve never queued in this or any other pub’
You should have gone to the back of the queue and waited your turn, it isn’t fair.’
Show me the sign requesting me to queue, this isn’t the post office. The staff, if they are any good, know who’s next to serve’.
‘That’s not true, you got served before us.’
‘That’s because I was at the bar and could be served. Do you expect them to shout over people for their orders?’
‘That’s not the point, we were all in front of you and should have been served first. We always queue. Next time join the queue and wait.’
‘Sorry but I going to enjoy my pint. Feel free to queue if you feel it necessary but pleasedon’t impose your views on other, just as experienced, pyb goers.’
This paraphrases two conversations I have had recently and ignores the pointed, and often rude, remarks I have heard in similar situations. Where did this queueing lark come from? Any driver worth their salt knows that in most cases you get to the bar in good order, the scrum has a life of it’s own. On getting to the bar the staff know the order, or most of us will say that someone else’s turn is before ours. It works.
Amongst the only issues are those with loud voices who wave credit cards around and demand service, those who get to the bar without having decided what they want, and the bar hogs who sit or stand at the bar because they always have and bugger anyone else.
These types are dealt with in time honoured fashion and are part of the life and lore of the pub. I wouldn’t have it any other way. A pub is all things to all people.
Now about the beer ……
Beer is made from four simple ingredients. Water, malt, hops,and yeast. But, to me, other factors include the brewing equipment, location of brewery, and circumstances of said brewery.
If a brewery moves, for whatever reason, the beers go with it. No problem, keep the names and try to recreate the same flavours and enjoy a bit of leeway.
Take over and close a brewery, it’s a different matter. I feel it amounts to fraud and dishonesty to take the name of a taken over and closed brewery and use it to sell beers brewed elsewhere at a different, still functioning brewery.
The recipe may be the same but due to that factors I have listed above it cannot be the same beer. If it is that good, and I admit several erstatz beers are, give it a new name and let it stand on it’s own feet.
This tirade has been brought on by several accolades I gave read about the new ‘Bass No1’. It might be a good beer but it came from the Bass Brewery in Burton on Trent and was brewed using the Union System. Please correct me if I am wrong but neither the brewery nor the Union system survived takeover by an accountant, and greedy shareholder, driven corporate beverage company. So give it a new name, ‘Bass No 2’ or however many different breweries have subsequently been used, perhaps?
Rant over, opinions welcome.
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