British pubs for sociologists

Personally, I wish virtually everyplace had as an option, a cashier where one could go to "settle the bill". Despite every effort in many cases to explain that we have theater tickets or otherwise don't wanna loiter after our meal, I regularly have trouble getting the tab settled. Even in Chez Snooty at times I would prefer to take my bill, go to some cashier and just settle the dern thing. If others don't wanna they can go through the whole waiter driven schtick. This is almost especially true when hosting some moderately large group. There is this sorta "uncomfortable moment" when the tab comes and everyone kinda looks at you while you review and care for the bill. I'd almost prefer to excuse myself, and go "take care of business" in private while my guests continue to enjoy themselves.

Rosalba e Massimo ( snipped-for-privacy@privacy.net) wrote: : : So I like US restaurants, where you usually get the bill without asking : with the coffee... or Uk pub when you pay the drinks (and sometimes the : food) when you order. :

You would, then, really appreciate the Vietnamese restaurants in SoCal. Each table has a number. When you're done, you just walk up to the cashier and tell them your table number -- you're out the door whenever you decide it's time to go.

In article , Ken Wheatley writes

Hee hee. I expected a flame, but not from that direction!

that should work inthe UK too. get up, go get your coats, start putting them on, head for the door. Someone will either stop you and remind you you havn't paid, or will politely remind you you havn't paid, or you get a free meal :)

I've had table service of drinks on the several occasions that I've been in the Euston Flyer (Fullers, so there is RA) in central London. Not sure if this is usual, or just the food waiting staff working for tips when not otherwise busy.

With regard to push buttons for calling the waiter, a good example is the Crown in Belfast which still has these in the Snugs (and they still work!) but they are ignored by the staff (quite correctly) as the Pub does not provide table service.

This would still confuse the Tourists though...

C.

In article , Chris Lonsbrough writes

It worked for me the last time I was in there (many years ago, I should say - probably about '82-83). Also, on my first visits to the Anchor Bankside in London (way back in 1977), my party was in the room next to the bar. It had a serving hatch and we could open it and put our orders directly through to the barman.

I never had any trouble because of this in any place of Turkey... What was your experience about this ?

Following up to congokid

Yo sushi, if my memory is working well, sometimes have this, they also sometimes have a robot trolley that comes round. It wouldn't work in a pub of course.

Following up to Mike O'Sullivan

why not cut out the middle man and give your money straight to the government

Following up to Andy Bolstridge

sounds like my sort of place.

I doubt this pub is expecting repeat business anyhow... :-)

Dave