A pub in Hartlepool has sparked a fierce online debate after publishing a brutally honest social media guide for Christmas revellers, bluntly stating that certain customers are hated by both regulars and staff.
The Festive Gripe: 'Non-Drinkers' Under Fire
The Royal, on Church Street in Hartlepool, took to Facebook to vent its frustrations about the seasonal influx of what it calls "non-drinkers." The establishment clarified it doesn't mean teetotallers, but rather people who avoid pubs for eleven months of the year, only to descend during December for office parties and festive catch-ups.
The post, shared on Wednesday, 17th December 2025, didn't mince words. It accused these occasional visitors of ruining pubs for everyone else and issued a stark warning: "Everyone hates you. Every actual drinker in the pub hates you and all the serving staff hate you." The pub even cautioned easily offended people not to read further.
The Seven Commandments of Christmas Pub Etiquette
The now-viral guide laid out seven essential rules for festive pub-goers, aiming to curb common irritations.
First, know your order before approaching the bar. The post compared the bar to a complex machine, urging customers not to deliberate while at the counter or turn to ask friends what they want, as this "sucks life away" from other drinkers.
Second, don't start drinking too early. The pub warned that amateurs who begin at 4 pm are likely to be "puking and crying" by 9 pm, lacking the stamina of regulars.
Third, you are automatically in a round with your group. The advice was to order and pay collectively, not drink-by-drink. It singled out the cardinal sin of leaving a Guinness order until last, holding up the entire queue.
Fourth, know your surroundings. Don't ask for a single malt in a shots bar, or a complicated cocktail in a traditional ale house.
Fifth, don't use annoying tactics to get served. The post explicitly banned banging change on the bar, waving money, clicking fingers, or whistling. Such behaviour, it claimed, will move you to the back of the invisible queue.
Sixth, accept preferential treatment for regulars. If "Bob," who drinks there five times a week, gets served first, newcomers should "just shut up." His custom, the pub argues, keeps the lights on for the other eleven months.
Finally, respect closing time. The pub stressed that last orders are a legal requirement, and staff cannot be cajoled or bribed to serve after time is called.
Backlash and Applause for Blunt Advice
The post, which was also shared on the Hillsborough Tap Facebook page, received a mixed reaction. Some, like Facebook user Debbie, warned it "could back fire." Another, Leighanne, simply commented, "Wow just wow."
However, it also garnered significant support, particularly from those with hospitality experience. Commenter Emma praised the advice to order all drinks at once, while Zoe, who spent decades working bars, said the post was "absolutely spot on." Sue called it "utter genius," and Eddie wistfully asked, "Can I be Bob?"
Despite the humorous and hyperbolic tone, the post taps into genuine tensions during the UK's busiest pub season, highlighting the unspoken social contract between establishments, their regulars, and the festive flood of once-a-year customers.
