Serving Drinks Etiquette in Dublin Pubs

paddylonglegs

Anyone come across particular etiquette in dublin pubs? Particularly the older style ones.

Was out last night and "interrupted" the barman with a two pint order while he was pulling a pint. He replied with a smart answer something along the lines of "you want to add to this order then is it?" - a round about way of saying wait your turn.

No problems at all waiting my turn but its pretty much a given in Ireland that a barman has the ability to remember 3 or 4 separate orders, having worked behind a busy bar for a few years myself.

Is there an etiquette in some pubs that I wasn't aware of? Or was I just dealing with a disgruntled barman? Thought is would be interesting to find out any other types of etiquette that people have come across before.

cheers

Dravokivich

When the barman asks me what do I want, I tell him.

Sauve

I've never come across this, but then again I'd never interrupt a barman. I always wait for them to come to me, they've enough going on in their heads without punters giving them further orders and confusing them. A lot do seem to be able to remember an astounding number of orders at once though...

awec

Should have just said yes.

patwicklow

I was in the pub trade along time and i can serve 5-6 rounds at any one time
when very busy you just go into auto mode. just looks like that barman was lazy cheeky and untrained, if he had just two pints on the go and could not take an order and even say be a min or two.

Otis Driftwood

Moved from tGC

starviewadams

Neary's?

Sky King

Just ask them for what you want but add 'whenever you;re ready please' at the end of it.

Cicero

Go to Nearys in Chattam st. Dublin...they'll put manners on ya...:p

jd007

Wait until they ask you what you want...?

Potential-Monke

Most barmen/women i have dealt with are fine, but you'll always have the tw@ who can't do two things at once, or who ignores you for the women, etc. I bring my custom elsewhere when i meet ones like that. If i had a bar i wouldn't hire anyone for serving unless they had a bartending course done.

I will give major major Kudos to the blonde working behind the bar by the door in the Foundry in Waterford. I won't say her name, but she is definitely one of the best bar-person i have ever had the privilege of being served by. 10/10.

mikemac1

Click your fingers next time OP

Barmen just love when you do that to get their attention...

Potential-Monke

mikemac1 wrote: »

Click your fingers next time OP

Barmen just love when you do that to get their attention...

And waiters/waitresses!

Logical Fallacy

paddylonglegs wrote: »

Anyone come across particular etiquette in dublin pubs? Particularly the older style ones.

Was out last night and "interrupted" the barman with a two pint order while he was pulling a pint. He replied with a smart answer something along the lines of "you want to add to this order then is it?" - a round about way of saying wait your turn.

No problems at all waiting my turn but its pretty much a given in Ireland that a barman has the ability to remember 3 or 4 separate orders, having worked behind a busy bar for a few years myself.

Is there an etiquette in some pubs that I wasn't aware of? Or was I just dealing with a disgruntled barman? Thought is would be interesting to find out any other types of etiquette that people have come across before.

cheers

There may have been other orders to be dealt with or customers waiting before you maybe?

padd b1975

Otis Driftwood wrote: »

Moved from tGC

Dublin forum???

Cantona's Collars

The op should try drinking in the UK,the barstaff can barely handle an order of 2 drinks at a time.Absolutely useless,rounds were a waste of time as the barstaff nearly had a mental breakdown trying to remember the order.

A local barman down here would put them to shame,the guy is a machine when it comes to orders and serving drinks.

Chinafoot

patwicklow wrote: »

just looks like that barman was lazy cheeky and untrained,

More like the OP was being rude and cheeky by not even waiting to be acknowledged by the barman before ordering.

Jimmy Garlic

If you get unwarranted lip from a barman, move on, go somewhere else. They should be glad you are in there in the first place.

Mint Sauce

Did all the Pubs outside of Dublin close then?

housetypeb

mikemac1 wrote: »

Click your fingers next time OP

Barmen just love when you do that to get their attention...

Potential-Monke wrote: »

And waiters/waitresses!

Everybody knows (or should) it takes more than two fingers to make a waitress come.

Eggonyerface

padd b1975 wrote: »

Dublin forum???

What about it?

Do people not order drinks outside Dublin?? The thread title says Dublin, fair enough, but come on!!

mikemac1

Aren't some pubs in Dublin unionized?
It's a reason they don't open St Stephens Day, only the biggest session of the year for the rest of Ireland

rabble rabble, I blame the unions for this one.

biko

From AH, there may be a difference between Dub pubs and then rest of the nation, I don't know.

skregs

OP sounds like a cock. The barman was right to make him wait.

empacher

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Most barmen/women i have dealt with are fine, but you'll always have the tw@ who can't do two things at once, or who ignores you for the women, etc. I bring my custom elsewhere when i meet ones like that. If i had a bar i wouldn't hire anyone for serving unless they had a bartending course done.

I will give major major Kudos to the blonde working behind the bar by the door in the Foundry in Waterford. I won't say her name, but she is definitely one of the best bar-person i have ever had the privilege of being served by. 10/10.

In that case you should head off to america, because majority of bar people in Ireland. 95% don't do a course. Its a trade you acquire.

paddylonglegs

skregs wrote: »

OP sounds like a cock. The barman was right to make him wait.

thanks skregs, how did you guess, I am a cock!

In a busy bar, you will never queue up, you will never get a ticket and wait to be served, there is no system for ordering drinks, therefore catching the barmans eye is the only way of ordering in a busy bar. pretty ruthless unfortunately most of the time. When trying to perform this task,If a barman does have too much on their mind, then asking you to hold on is the normal response, which I completely understand having worked in a bar. If you fancy just standing back and waiting your turn to be served, you'll be pretty thirsty by closing.

So,etiquette? or rude barman?

ProudDUB

Chinafoot wrote: »

More like the OP was being rude and cheeky by not even waiting to be acknowledged by the barman before ordering.

Agree. Would definitely wait until until the barman had made eye contact with me (at the very least) before giving him my order. Would never just shout it out while he was attending to someone elses order. That's just being rude and pushy. Also, others may have been there waiting to place an order before you. Whether or not the bar man can remember your order it is irrelevant. When you are in a restaurant or Starbucks or just the humble chipper, you don't shout out your order to the waiter/server as he is attending to another table/customer. You wait until he is ready to take your order. It's just good manners. Why should a pub be any different?

paddylonglegs

ProudDUB wrote: »

Agree. Would definitely wait until until the barman had made eye contact with me (at the very least) before giving him my order. Would never just shout it out while he was attending to someone elses order. That's just being rude and pushy. Also, others may have been there waiting to place an order before you. Whether or not the bar man can remember your order it is irrelevant. When you are in a restaurant or Starbucks or just the humble chipper, you don't shout out your order to the waiter/server as he is attending to another table/customer. You wait until he is ready to take your order. It's just good manners. Why should a pub be any different?

point taken, however - there is no system for ordering drinks, therefore catching the barmans eye is the only way of ordering in a busy bar

never mentioned about shouting out an order

Doom

paddylonglegs wrote: »

Anyone come across particular etiquette in dublin pubs? Particularly the older style ones.

Was out last night and "interrupted" the barman with a two pint order while he was pulling a pint. He replied with a smart answer something along the lines of "you want to add to this order then is it?" - a round about way of saying wait your turn.

No problems at all waiting my turn but its pretty much a given in Ireland that a barman has the ability to remember 3 or 4 separate orders, having worked behind a busy bar for a few years myself.

Is there an etiquette in some pubs that I wasn't aware of? Or was I just dealing with a disgruntled barman? Thought is would be interesting to find out any other types of etiquette that people have come across before.

cheers

Next time order 10 pints of Guinness, wait till they're poured then tell'em you've changed your mind and walks out

hullaballoo

I've been a barman (amongst other things) for 10+ years and the OP has probably done the one thing that I find most irritating when working in busy bars. There's no way that in any other social setting you would interrupt someone who is clearly busy by telling them what you want.

It would be considered exceptionally rude. If I'm honest, it is exceptionally rude. The "etiquette" is to wait until you are called on to place your order. If you feel that other people (hot girls) are getting served before you, either send a hot girl up to order your drinks or complain to someone in charge.

(Before you complain - You also have to consider the value that a pub will place on having hot girls who are getting drunk there vs. ignorant old lads who get cranky if they can't get a drink.)

There's nothing wrong with being animated when your waiting at a bar, the easiest way to be served is to get the attention of the barman, but there's no call whatsoever for rudeness.

ProudDUB

paddylonglegs wrote: »

point taken, however - there is no system for ordering drinks, therefore catching the barmans eye is the only way of ordering in a busy bar never mentioned about shouting out an order

Yes, but in your original post you specifically mentioned "interrupting" the bar man as he was pulling pints for others. You don't normally interrupt someone that you are have eye contact with. Hence my presumption that you got his attention by raising your voice above the throng in order to place your order.

Lapin

Doom wrote: »

Next time order 10 pints of Guinness, wait till they're poured then tell'em you've changed your mind and walks out

You think barmen are that stupid ?

Jimmy Garlic

hullaballoo wrote: »

I've been a barman (amongst other things) for 10+ years and the OP has probably done the one thing that I find most irritating when working in busy bars. There's no way that in any other social setting you would interrupt someone who is clearly busy by telling them what you want.

Would ya get a grip. You were not a brain surgeon. You were getting paid to work behind a bar. An ''i'll be there with you in a minute'' would be the right thing to say, any pub that employs lippy barmen with a bad attitude doesn't deserve custom.

paddylonglegs

0.19 seconds sums it up...

delta_bravo

Cicero wrote: »

Go to Nearys in Chattam st. Dublin...they'll put manners on ya...:p

Just wondering about this. Has it a reputation for surly barmen?

mikemac1

starviewadams wrote: »

Neary's?

Cicero wrote: »

Go to Nearys in Chattam st. Dublin...they'll put manners on ya...:p

I was wondering the same as Delta bravo

What's so special about this place?

Does the owner kick people out over nothing? :P

Wishbone Ash

paddylonglegs wrote: »

and "interrupted" the barman with a two pint order while he was pulling a pint

As well as annoying the barman that type of behaviour shows arrogance to other polite customers who may have been there before you but are waiting patiently for their turn to be served.

Lapin

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Would ya get a grip. You were not a brain surgeon. You were getting paid to work behind a bar. An ''i'll be there with you in a minute'' would be the right thing to say, any pub that employs lippy barmen with a bad attitude doesn't deserve custom.

I agree.

But the OP did say he 'interrupted' the barman. As a former barman myself, I had no problem with anyone trying to get my attention. But interrupting someone is a different thing altogether.

It doesn't matter if you are a barman or a brain surgeon - everyone is entitled to some respect.

Fuinseog

paddylonglegs wrote: »

Anyone come across particular etiquette in dublin pubs? Particularly the older style ones.

Was out last night and "interrupted" the barman with a two pint order while he was pulling a pint. He replied with a smart answer something along the lines of "you want to add to this order then is it?" - a round about way of saying wait your turn.

No problems at all waiting my turn but its pretty much a given in Ireland that a barman has the ability to remember 3 or 4 separate orders, having worked behind a busy bar for a few years myself.

Is there an etiquette in some pubs that I wasn't aware of? Or was I just dealing with a disgruntled barman? Thought is would be interesting to find out any other types of etiquette that people have come across before.

cheers

if a barman has his head down and is concentrated on pulling a pint I leave him be. not everyone can multitask and he will get different orders if he is waiting for a pint to settle. If he looks up during the process of pintpulling I say 'two pints when you are ready please'

Fuinseog

maybe an unrelated matter but are barmen revered too much in this country? for some folk to bet barred is a fate worse than death and when ordering these folk approach the almighty barkeep with great fear and reverence. I believe David McSavage lampooned this.

Fuinseog

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Would ya get a grip. You were not a brain surgeon. You were getting paid to work behind a bar. An ''i'll be there with you in a minute'' would be the right thing to say, any pub that employs lippy barmen with a bad attitude doesn't deserve custom.

its a common feature of a superpub. they are wedged to the rafters so they can afford to treat the customer like dirt. usually its some pup who is not a real barman

Fuinseog

irish-stew wrote: »

Did all the Pubs outside of Dublin close then?

apparently

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

Wishbone Ash

Fuinseog wrote: »

are barmen revered too much in this country?

I'd say the opposite is true. Most people wouldn't shout their order in a shop, bank, butchers, takeaway etc. but patiently wait their turn to be served.

Have you ever heard "A bank draft for €100 when you're ready please" coming from the floor in a bank?

Fuinseog

I will never forget the time I was in the Quays in Galway, a superpub with about ten bouncers and generally avoided by the natives. I ordered a few drinks and then realised I ordered one to many. when I tried to cancel it the guy behind the bar started shouting at me and insisted that I pay for all the drinks. I told him I wanted to speak to the manager. The manager arrived with three bouncers, who agreed that I had only to pay for the amount of pints I wanted. I got a the pint and the three bouncers stayed beside me until I drank it and left.

mickoneill30

The only etiquette I'm aware of is to wait until the barman asks you, or if he's in the middle of an order wait for the eye contact.

I've never just wandered up to a bar and just said my order in the general direction of a busy barman.

Fuinseog

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I'd say the opposite is true. Most people wouldn't shout their order in a shop, bank, butchers, takeaway etc. but patiently wait their turn to be served.

Have you ever heard "A bank draft for €100 when you're ready please" coming from the floor in a bank?

in these places there is queue and people are served in that order. very often this not the case in a pub and the cute blonde who squeezes through will get served ahead of those who have been queuing patiently. it sometimes seems the barman serves who he wants to first and this will irritate the humble drinker of pints.

_blank_

David McSavage lampooning something doesn't necessarily mean anything, he's not exactly funny in any way.

Anyway, a person who can tend a bar correctly should be respected.

Fuinseog

Des wrote: »

David McSavage lampooning something doesn't necessarily mean anything, he's not exactly funny in any way.

Anyway, a person who can tend a bar correctly should be respected.

i hate McSavage , but he is supposed to comment on social matters so I thought I would mention him. Respect the barman by all means but grovel before him, no.

Paparazzo

In an old style bar like Mulligans or Nearys I'd wait. I don't drink in superpub wánker style pubs anymore -like The Turks Head, 4 Dame Lane, or The Mezz(do they even exist any more?), but when I did, if you didn't shout your order in, you may as well go home cos you won't get served.
As for the barman being smart, that's out of order too. He should just tell you he'll be with you in a moment.

For future reference op: If people in the pub are mostly drinking stout and/or whiskey wait for the barman to make eye contact. If they're drinking lager like Heninken/Carlsberg/Miller shout in your order. If they're all drinking bud tell the bar man you'll syringe him if he doesn't serve you next.

mikemac1

Fuinseog wrote: »

maybe an unrelated matter but are barmen revered too much in this country?

It used to be apprenticed job or else you did courses with CERT, tourism training agency.
It was a good job with good money

Now it's a McJob of little more then minimum wage. And if you have years experience you'll get a bit more but not a lot

Revered? You'd have less stress and the same money on the checkout in Tesco