What to Know Before Visiting a London Pub | UK Pub Etiquette
November 27, 2019
The Culture That Connects Us | Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Posibles acciones jugando una mano de BlackJack
Seven Nation Army – Vintage New Orleans Dirge White Stripes Cover ft. Haley Reinhart
About The Author
Kameron Okuneva
100 Comments
Will be in London for the first time September 17th to 23rd! I am sooooooooo excited!
I loved the visuals on this video! The little clips of pubs were great! Would love to see more of this 👏🏼
Visited the Mayfair back in '16 for Sunday Roast and it was such a great experience!
It will be my first time in London and your videos are super helpful! Especially this one as I plan to go to as many pubs as I can! Cheers!
Jess, Have you ever done a video on you're favorite pubs? If not, I'd like to see one
London pubs are lot healthier now since they banned smoking inside them. It was like heading into a fog until the late 1990s.
I know part of my plan will be a pub crawl. I think I saw a video you posted with a tourism crawl. Down by the old docks? I'll look again. For me, pubs are always a must do! Thanks for this🍻
I forgot to ask, do the pubs typically offer beer flights or taste testing if you're not familiar with the brands?
We will be with a friend in London for the first time in September, I'm not planning to go to a pub since I don't drink alcohol, but I might go with my friend once or twice.
Any suggestions for a non-alcohol drinks in pubs?
It is quite normal to buy a drink for the bar person which they will probably take in monetary form as a tip.
If I may just add. When ordering food in the pub you may be asked for a table number so look for it before you go to the bar. If there isn't a number on the table some pubs will give you a spoon or bottle etc with the table number on it. This number helps to identify where you're sat.
The number of pubs in the UK are decreasing rapidly. You don't tend to find many pubs that are just pubs, by that I mean those that only sell drinks. Many pubs have regenerated and become pub-restaurants. This means there is less seating for those that just want a drink.
The pubs you find in the tourist areas are generally open to families, as the video states. However, there are some pubs in more local (or downtown as Americans say) that are very community based and those that drink in there tend to know many of the other drinkers. I'm a Londoner yet have walked into some of these type pubs to be met with stony silence! If you've ever watched American Werewolf in London think of the pub scene and you'll know what I mean. In fact, search YouTube for "American Werewolf in London – Pub Scene HD – BEST EDIT! " and check out the reaction when they walk into the pub.
In the UK we have many many different types of Beer/ Ale and Lager. Don't go in a pub and ask for a Lager Beer as they are completely different types of drink. However, if you travel to mainland Europe you can generally ask for a beer and it will be a form of Lager.
So, if you're in the UK and want a lager see the choice and choose by name, for example, a pint or half-pint of Stella, Peroni, Amstel, Heineken etc.
In the past paying for your drinks in cash was the usual practice but I now see many people using their debit / credit cards and if under £30 (as of August 2018) and supported by your card type you can use touchless which does not require your pin number.
All you need to know is don't spill my pint.
You can also put money into a kitty which is used to buy rounds. That way people can control the amount they drink better. If there are 9 of you can everyone was to buy a round you would be legless or end up refusing drinks, which means later round buyers would buy less than earlier round buyers. The alternative of having a kitty means you could all put £10 in, for instance, which is about enough for 2 drinks each and then top up the kitty if you all want more.
I’ve never heard of anyone making a reservation in a pub!!
How is the cider???
Nobody calls the servers "Bar Tenders".
They are either Barmen or Barmaids.
You forgot one important point. Wait for your turn. The bartender may ask you for your order by mistake. If you know there was someone waiting at the bar before you say that I was after that man. Serve him/her first. That politeness is very British and usually followed.
Go to the great city of Liverpool beer is half the price of that in London ?
Legendary
We will be in London the end of May will be our first time there. We want to go to the Ye Olde Cheesire Cheese Pub 1667 rebuilt. To us looks like fun and interesting. Great videos on helping visitors.
You might want to avoid any pubs close to a football ground on match days.
We don't tip.
BUT if you're a local, then it's often courteous to offer the bartender a drink every once in a while.
I would only ever do this if I know the bartender by name however.
Oh yes and here in England we drink “Pints 🍺 “ which i found quite strange when i visited the USA 🇺🇸 as their equivalent is smaller…i think it’s because we allow for the head on a ale…
Has anyone found this when visiting the USA?
Anyway, you’re all welcome here… hope you have a excellent experience in our country 👍🏻
do yourself a favour dont ask for "bardled" beer, "vardker" or "Scartch"
Do pubs offer any non-alcoholic beverages? For those of us who don't or can't drink alcohol.
19 bartenders disliked because of "no tipping" 😉
What about prices? Are they posted; do they vary much; what’s the typical cost of a pint on tap?
Can I add, (1) In many UK cities and towns you are not allowed to go outside with a glass glass. Pubs will often put drinks in plastic glasses if you are going outside, and (2) definitely no smoking inside any pub. Enjoy your stay.
I work in a pub in London (the smallest wetherspoon in the country) u don't have to tip the bartender but if you do we are happy because it means we've done a good job lol
Have you heard of a pub called Cahoots London? Been there? Any review?
In the mid 90s, the most important rule was to never say anything negative about Oasis.
I am a british citizen.I lived in London in the 80s and it was beautiful. Now I live in New York city and would like to visit london but the violence put me off.Are the many big fights in London bars ? .I know I should not dwell on the negative but back in the day pubs were fun .
Bar staff like to be tiped for good service. Not compulsory like the states though.
My first experience of a pub was at the tender age of 13 – never looked back.
Like this film
Don't look at my Mrs or my pint.
If you want a proper pint wi 't proper head on it, you need to go up North
Use a bloody coaster
Re: the dress code – generally no caps or hooded tops (with the hood being worn on the head). Shirts to be worn at all times (even outside), but people (chaps) trying to get away with that is pretty rare in London.
Why is this specifically London? It's the same across the Uk and most places are a lot better and friendlier than London.
you dont have to tip the barman but it is very appreciated
And anyone asking for a shot of blackcurrant in their pint of Guinness deserves to be thrown out onto the street! 😀
We don’t tip, but usually if they were extra friendly and that; or you’re a local to the pub… you offer the bartender a drink
Go for the cask ale. The beer’s with the big wooden handles. Never understand people that go all the way to the UK and order Carlsberg or Peroni when there’s freshly brewed English ale you can’t get get anywhere else in the world staring you in the face. Some popular ones to try are London pride, Spitfire, Doombar, Old speckled hen, Abbot ale and Timothy Taylor landlord. Any of these will put the warm, stale and flat stereotype to bed.
Tips are always welcome! But not required and waiting your turn Don’t push in! You will infuriate the locals! Haha
Or if your a door supervisor, like me then we just kick you out at closing time
Surprised that you didn't state that you cannot smoke in pubs. That would have been a highly useful fact to include for overseas visitors.
I'm a Londoner and I approve this message
You forgot the most important thing about pubs: If someone accidentally breaks a glass or a plate it's VITAL that you yell "WAHEEEEEY!" at the top of your lungs, it would be considered beyond rude not to!
If they serve a locally brewed craft ale, I recommend you try it, you may never taste the like again and it can be fab. Don't forget it's meant to be room temperature to get the full flavour. Enjoy!
Always wait your turn at the bar, and never mention religion or politics when chatting with the other customers, it's considered bad form.
Also, don't forget your table number at the till if you're ordering food.
Why the hell am I watching this I'm from this country
I would be great to know a couple of the best pubs to visit for first timers. Ones that are very traditional and others that are trendy.
Hej. Might be worth mentioning that a ‘pint’ in London, as in all the UK, is 20 fluid ounces not the 16 ounce Yankee pint.
What's your favourite pub ?
whats tinder like in london?
From Monday to Friday in central London most of the people that work in the city wear suits…
Most importantly – wait your turn when at the bar.
don’t forget that most pubs will let you try a drink before ordering. Don’t be afraid to ask, be better to have a small taste before than end up with a pint you don’t like.
😭😭😭😭😭
I would also suggest taking a loan because of the cost of a round. Avoid the square mile
Lamb and Flag near Covent Garden served the BEST Sunday Roast I've had… the Kids loved it too!!! Cheers
I will be in London from Sept 14-19th. First stop will be The Churchill Arms.
do you know if there are many vegan restaurants in london? or is it a rarity?
No tipping the barman or barmaid? Things have changed since I was a regular pub goer in the late 50s/60s. Then it was not unusual to to say "Will you have one with me?" The bartender would usually say "Thank you, I'll have it later" keep the price of their drink usually wanting to stay sober and make up their wages that way.
I would probably be dressed up during “happy hour” which in the USA means 4 pm – 8 pm otherwise I’d dress casual
I am thinking about moving to (retiring to) England. I hope someone will be willing to e-mail back and fourth on this subject. I am going to travel to London in a few months.
I really enjoy the practical tips in your videos. We always try to learn about and be respectful of the culture when we travel. It's great to get some insight from someone who wasn't raised in London and knows what particular things may be different for us Americans.
Pint Of Large & a Packet Of Crisps.
One thing that gets on my nerves in pubs are the people standing infront of the taps drinking their beer. I know it's not hard to ask them to move out the way, but common decency would be to move further along the bar and allow people to see what drinks are available.
Is it ok to drink alone in pubs? cuz mostly ppl comes in groups and i found it weird sometimes sitting alone in the corner and drinking 🙂
How are jobs out there?
There is a way to tip the bartender: after a few rounds, when you get the order in, say “and one for yourself”, that’s the national pub equivalant to tipping. Don't be insulted if you don't see the money for the drink being placed in a tip-jar. Usually they’ll have a code on their electronic tills for that drink for themselves that’s not actually a drink.
Although I hear that’s something that’s dying out and only us old ‘uns do that now.
I watched this and although I’m British I thought it was a really good video for tourists. Cheers!
definitely will be visiting pubs while in UK in June this year 🙂 Husband is originally from UK so think we should do alright
Don't forget your pork scratchings
My tip for Americans? Pull on that beautiful Claret and Sky Blue West Ham shirt and pop down into the very friendly Blue Anchor in Bermondsey South London – even better on a Saturday afternoon during the football season.
My boyfriend and I were at the Sawyer Arms in the Paddington area having a pint or two on a Monday night and were shocked that the pub was closing promptly right at 11pm! "You have 51 seconds to finish your beers" and they meant it. We were shocked because it seemed so early, especially for a major city in a country known for its drinking culture. Also it was jarring how abrupt they were about it. Luckily, there was a kinder, gentler, and most importantly open pub a block down the road.
You forgot how to get puke of your shoes.
Oh yeah, in the Uk no tipping, that's why we do prefer the American tourists here in Europe, I work as a guide, and I get paid peanuts without tips, God bless the USA and their nice and tipping tourists from the East coast!!! NYC best tippers, are always welcome. But when I know there are british tourists, I will just do the average service and not care, as there won't be any tip for my own meal later the day
which place do you recommend most to stay in (we don't have a high budget)? do you think in this case Shoreditch would be the best option ??? if we want to have tours in London in the day time and go for pubs and bars at night and stay in an area near the pubs and bars so we go to our rented apartment at any late time,
Pro tip: If youre on a date in a busy Pub/bar or just dont fancy waiting a long time everytime you want a drink tip the bartender a fiver/tenner when you order your first drink. Where its not normal to tip here the bartender will definitely take notice and for the rest of the night you will get priority from that bartender when you go to the bar.
Can u recommend some nice drinks in Pub for young ladies??
English Pubs = Easy going.
If you want to try a local real ale just ask the staff what they sell the most of.lots of pubs have " guest beers" for a week or so, again ask the staff.
How and where can we find a good afternoon tea?
As a bartender in London, I have to stress you CAN tip us lol 😂 it's not a requirement, but if you feel like tipping, please do! It's England, not Japan. We will gladly appreciate your offerings
As someone that works in Wetherspoons, it is important that you look out for, and ask about any themes your pubs may have. If you visited many wetherspoons, you would know that most of them has a certain theme, that they are decorated by, and during the night it transforms into something more true to that theme. Most pubs also turn into clubs during the night, so look out for those aswell
An interesting tip that is often overlooked is if you want to try an ale on tap, you can ask the bar tender for a sample taste of the ales, so you can try before you buy. Ales have so many different tastes that this is very useful when deciding what you like the taste of.
Different pubs have different tipping policies, a tip or being offered to have a drink brought for you is always appreciated even if you can’t accept it
Yeeah, pint of strong bow mate. Cheers mate
Say " please " after ordering. It's rude not to 😉
If you ever visit London please realise one thing. We love drinking.
Forgot to mention that the wetherspoons app is a vital download
In the evening most are well dressed as they've just come from work
Ill be in london in 2 weeks so thank you for this video lookin forward to hittin up a pub cant wait🙌
So what would happen if I was at a bar in America and asked for a pint of larger
If you want to tip you'd only do it once and you'd say "Take one for yourself" but don't expect them to actually have a drink, they'll just take the price of a drink as a tip.