How the pub is meant to be

 Two pub visits since we've arrived have reminded me what a great experience a good pub visit is.

In the BM on Thursday, we couldn't sit next to the fire because there were Christmas meals being had.  We looked in the other half and the BBB looked at the two-person table next to the gents and grudgingly settled in there (it's the worst space in the pub).  As I arrived with the beers the two chaps on the next table (the one with the wobbly leg) said "we're just about to go - you're welcome to this table...".

Naturally, we gladly took up the option and settled in.  The leg was wobbly again.

Still, we were in the BM and we were happy.

BBB went to get a second drink but in the fluster of the queue forgot to get beer mats. No matter.

After a while a lone chap settled into the table by the gents, then another guy came in.  Instead of sitting with us where there was loads of space, he asked the other guy whether he could sit at that table.  The resident guy was gracious but I could see a look of near-horror of sharing a really small space with a stranger.

I caught the incomer's eye and suggested there was plenty of room at our table.  He thanked us and said "it's OK, I'm really quiet".  He wasn't.  Clearly a chap wanting a bit of company - and we know, from work, that just a small amount of interaction with people can make them feel better - even though it's not something we necessary thrive on. It would have been churlish not to.  I can't really remember what we chatted about.

I tootled off to get a third beer (and some beer mats to fettle the table) and opted for very strong Wiper and True keg beer.  The lady at the bar poured them and put them on the bar whilst I paid.  They looked quite different colours but I then held them up to check it wasn't just a trick of the light.  To be honest, it was difficult to tell.

The BBB once again took one for the team - tasting them to see if there was anything awry.  He said they tasted slightly different from each other but both were fine.  So we shrugged and settled back in.

Meanwhile the bar manager had noticed that they didn't look quite right - and called over that he wanted to replace them.  I'm not sure he said what the reason was but the replacements were grand.  Maybe the keg had been tipped or something...who knows?  This is god-tier bar management in a pub that was heaving with people.

Then, yesterday, we went to the Kings Head.  We had no idea if it would be busy or not - you can't always tell.  It was. We knew there was a possibility that it would be the stools at the far end of the bar - as I passed them I did notice they were both covered  coats - probably from the blokes on the adjoining stools.  I made a mental in case the snug was  full.

It was very busy with three groups:  one of 8 blokes at one end, a small young group on one side of the entrance and about 5 blokes on the other.  However, between the two groups of blokes there was a bottom-sized gap on the bench, and a table barely being used.

Immediately one of the chaps on the nearest group shuffled along to make more space for me.  I asked the other group of men if they were ok with me using the table and they were delightful and waved me in.  The last piece of the puzzle was a stool.  There was a little cluster next to the young group, confirmed to be unused so I tucked that next to the table and allowed the BBB to sit on the bench so that it was easier for me to get the next round in (he has a  more svelt backside, too).

The big group swelled to 10 but somehow everyone managed to squeeze in with a reasonable degree of comfort. The tramcar snug is the only route out from behind the bar so we despaired of the staff trying to clear glasses.

 Then the small group of chaps nudged us to alert us that they were moving on and that we might want to slide into their space.  We did so gladly but were amazed that the bigger group didn't immediately make themselves a bit more comfortable and spread out.  We were impressed.

It was time for a second, but the previous incumbents of the space we'd moved had left their glasses, so I picked them all up and took them back to the bar.  The lady on duty thanked me profusely and I ordered fresh beers.

The behaviour of everyone in the place (save, perhaps, for the people who be-coated the stools) taking some personal responsibility for the enjoyment of everyone - and of excellent bar work, too.

This is how it should always be.