A Slippery Slope

Way back in the past I wrote about how the modern mannerism "You all right there" at the bar had become a kind of of substitute for previous greetings such as "what can I get you?" or "what would you like?" For the record, it was a short blogpost, as this one will be, and it was over fifteen years ago and, inevitably, in the way of things, it has got worse. Fifteen years ago, I was by my measure of the day an old git - and I quote myself there. Nowadays I'm an even older old git and while generally good natured, I am slightly wound up, inwardly at least by how bar staff have become even more slapdash.  

I was reminded of this in no uncertain terms the other day at the bar of a local brewer's pub - not JW Lees - though their contribution to this kind of thing is not exactly an ungenerous one - but a local rival. The young woman in question approached from around fifteen or more feet away as I waited to be served at the end of the bar.  No jolly repartee was expected, but I suppose deep down I had hoped, nay expected a tad more than a curt upwards nod in my direction, which I took to be an offer to trade, though expressed in somewhat minimal terms. I did not reply and we had a slight stand off. Then things looked up. "OK?" she said. To add insult to injury, I was silently presented with the card reader and before the approval had been signalled, she had returned to gossip with her fellow bar operatives, proving at least she could string a few words together when it suited her.

Now I know when I'm beaten, so I retreated to my seat to moan to E who has heard it all before. Am I wrong in this?  Should I expect less these days? I was almost nostalgic for "you all right there?"

I wrote here about how different things were when I worked in the pub when God was a boy and society was totally different. That has changed and of course social media hadn't then robbed so many of us of the little sense we started out with, but the basic principles remain. The customer, especially in these difficult times, is all of the business. Treat that person with a bit of respect. 

If you run a pub or bar, please reach your staff that. It really does make a difference. Especially to old gits.

Another YouTube recommendation from me.  James runs and co-owns the Big Six pub in Halifax a pub I've been in and would return to in a heartbeat. His thoughts on pubs are really excellent. 

It's times like this when I miss the Pub Curmudgeon.