Hackney Church Brew Co has reported a 20% increase in like-for-like sales after successfully urging customers to stop forming single-file queues at its bar. The east London brewery put up signs asking punters to spread out along the width of the bar and trust staff to know who is next, rather than forming one long line.
Staff even resorted to shouting “please stop queuing” to a line of customers so long that it was forming out onto the street. In a social media post described as an “intervention”, the pub wrote: “A bar is not a post office.” The post continued: “You do not need to form one enormous, beautifully polite British queue stretching halfway across the taproom while four members of staff stare forlornly at 15 feet of completely empty bar.”
Post gains traction online
The post quickly gained traction online, with many applauding the brewery for calling out the “exceptionally British” behaviour. Speaking to The Standard, manager Hamish Glenn said the intervention appeared to have worked, with the single-file queue largely disappearing entirely.
Glenn said the story has particularly resonated with those working in pubs and hospitality, who understand the frustration of needlessly large queues. One social media user wrote: “YES!! I've never understood why people do this here,” while another said: “Nothing weirds me out more than a queue at the bar.”
Mixed reactions online
However, not everyone was receptive to the idea, with some online favouring the more ordered approach. “Silly us, we shouldn't be so polite and respectful,” one user wrote. Glenn said he expected a debate to kick off surrounding the post, but stressed that they are “not declaring war on people who queue”.
He said he can understand the argument that a single queue can feel fairer and eliminates any uncertainty on who is next to order. “We just don’t think it’s the most efficient way for a busy pub bar to operate,” he stated. “We’re trying to preserve a little bit of traditional British pub culture while getting everyone served faster. And if someone really loves standing in a single-file queue, there are plenty of opportunities elsewhere in British life to enjoy one!”
Pandemic influence cited
Glenn attributed the pandemic as a factor that has contributed to the way the population interacts with one another in public spaces. “During the pandemic we were actively taught to keep our distance, follow marked routes, queue in designated places and avoid crowding around each other. Some of those behaviours seem to have stuck.”
He also said there is likely an element of “misplaced British politeness” involved. “People see one person standing behind another and instinctively think, ‘That’s the queue,’ and join the back. Within a few minutes you’ve got 20 people stretching across the room while half the bar is completely empty.” Glenn stressed that personal space and manners don’t need to be sacrificed in a busy bar, but punters should place their trust in the staff to know who’s next. “It’s quicker, more sociable and, judging by what we’ve seen over the last week, considerably better for business too.”
