'Sorry mate, not allowed in because you aren't with someone'

SideWinder · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:33

I was waiting for a mate in Clapham early Saturday evening (so around 5ish) and thought I'd wait in a bar, chuck on Netflix and have a pint.

I was turned away from 5 places for exactly the same reason. I had a good chat with one of the bouncers and yeah, it was quite sad to hear that the rule is there to stop weird guys coming in by themselves to harass people (I suspect girls though...) Apparently its the same rule for girls and they can't come in by themselves.

Anyone heard of this? I am 34, always been in London and not come across this or heard about it through mates/randoms.

I guess I could have lied but then I would have been watched all night then probably kicked out...which would be embarrassing.

Honestly, I get it and sounds reasonable to protect people but yeah its quite sad it has come to this.

EDIT: This was bars so not pubs.

Hutchy · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:35

SideWinder said:
I was waiting for a mate in Clapham early Saturday evening (so around 5ish) and thought I'd wait in a bar, chuck on Netflix and have a pint.

I was turned away from 5 places for exactly the same reason. I had a good chat with one of the bouncers and yeah, it was quite sad to hear that the rule is there to stop weird guys coming in by themselves to harass people (I suspect girls though...) Apparently its the same rule for girls and they can't come in by themselves.

Anyone heard of this? I am 34, always been in London and not come across this or heard about it through mates/randoms.

I guess I could have lied but then I would have been watched all night then probably kicked out...which would be embarrassing.

Honestly, I get it and sounds reasonable to protect people but yeah its quite sad it has come to this.

Do you look a bit suspect?

SideWinder · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:36

Hutchy said:
Do you look a bit suspect?

Urgh I knew this would be the first reply.

throwaway4372 · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:38

Good to know, in case I ever get some crazy idea of going out to do something, now I know not to bother.

Scam · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:41

Sounds pretty normal for a busy Saturday evening. I’ve always imagined Clapham is a bit grim like that. 5pm might be early but they’ll soon be rammed and no need for (like you say) weirdos coming in on their own to either just be weird.. or harass people

I’m guessing you tried “bars” rather than a nice old man pub. I doubt you’d have any issue in a proper pub?

GGizmo · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:41

There is netflix in bars these days?

I've not heard of this rule before. But it wouldn't surprise me.

Bars and nightclubs seem to always get away with some strange rules and most don't complain.

I've noticed when watching some of these night walkabout videos on youtube that a lot of bars seem to have no problem with jean pants and trainers these days. Back in the 90's and early 00's, if you was wearing either of those you'd be turned away.

aVdub · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:41

Good idea to stop the freaks that drop pills in peoples drinks.

Thekwango · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:47

aVdub said:
Good idea to stop the freaks that drop pills in peoples drinks.

aye, cause that's what it'll do.

Malevolence · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:47

SideWinder said:
Urgh I knew this would be the first reply.

Notice you didn't answer the question though.

nlel1975 · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:49

Thing is the so called weird guys look just like you or me. They don’t have a sign on their forehead saying weird guy.

aVdub · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:49

Thekwango said:
aye, cause that's what it'll do.

Yes I'm glad you agree

Rai200 · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:50

aVdub said:
Good idea to stop the freaks that drop pills in peoples drinks.

Now they need to team up. There's probably an app like Looking for Group but for wrong'uns.

SideWinder · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:50

Scam said:
Sounds pretty normal for a busy Saturday evening. I’ve always imagined Clapham is a bit grim like that. 5pm might be early but they’ll soon be rammed and no need for (like you say) weirdos coming in on their own to either just be weird.. or harass people

I’m guessing you tried “bars” rather than a nice old man pub. I doubt you’d have any issue in a proper pub?

Yeah pubs were ok but rammed. Just fancied somewhere random/bit different.

SideWinder · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:50

BowdonUK said:
There is netflix in bars these days?

I've not heard of this rule before. But it wouldn't surprise me.

Bars and nightclubs seem to always get away with some strange rules and most don't complain.

I've noticed when watching some of these night walkabout videos on youtube that a lot of bars seem to have no problem with jean pants and trainers these days. Back in the 90's and early 00's, if you was wearing either of those you'd be turned away.

Nah I meant watch on my phone.

Begbie · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:51

Silly, I used to quite often go for a pint on my own when walking about a city or when waiting on others.

Ahleckz · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:54

Imagine it’s because you went to a bar rather than a pub. A bar on a Saturday doesn’t really want someone watching Netflix on their phone, takes away from the atmosphere.
I regularly go for solo pints and don’t think I’ve ever been turned away for being by myself.

Participant · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:55

Fair play that you tried 5 times OP. I'd have had a couple of goes max, then curled up in the nearest shop front with my dog and sleeping bag.

BUDFORCE · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:57

Never heard of/or experienced this before.

But then again on the odd occasion I do go out it'll be to Wetherspoons because I refuse to pay anything over their prices for a drink.

Mr Badger · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:58

SideWinder, on a scale of 0 - 10 (with 0 being "not at all rapey" and 10 being "full on Jimmy Savile") how would you describe your appearance?

Hades · 5 Sep 2022 at 14:59

Just hang around looking for a bunch of other single guys and then all go in together as a mass weirdo group. Ten weirdo's are better than one.