Eating out and pubs in the UK

The pub is a central social place serving drinks (beer, bitter, cider, wine and non-alcoholic drinks) and meals (pub grub) such as fish and chips and burgers, and children are admitted at certain hours and with families in many places.

• The café serves breakfast, coffee, tea and sandwiches.
• A greasy spoon is a simple café at cheap prices for the full breakfast.
• A takeaway is food to go, and delivery via apps (Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat).
• Meals start early: breakfast from seven, lunch from twelve to three, and dinner (dinner or tea) from half past six to nine, and many restaurants close early outside the big cities, and some pubs close at eleven.
• And many places offer early bird menus at a lower price before seven in the evening.

In a restaurant the waiter guides you to a table or you wait at the entrance (Have you booked?), then you are given a menu, and he asks about drinks first, then returns to take the order.

• The usual order: starter then main then dessert or pudding, and ordering all is not necessary.
• And in the pub you choose a table (unless reserved) and go to the bar to order drinks and food and pay directly, and state your table number.
• At the bar tipping is not mostly expected, and you can say and one for yourself to offer the bartender a drink.
• And in cafés you order from the counter.
• And the bill is requested by saying Could we have the bill, please?.
• Bills are sometimes split, split the bill.
• And most places accept cards.
• And keep the receipt.

Many restaurants add a service charge, optional, of 10 to 12.5 percent to the bill, which must be clearly stated and you can ask for it to be removed if you are not satisfied.

• If the charge is not added the usual is to leave about 10 percent for good service in restaurants, and it is optional.
• In cafés and pubs tipping is not expected (you may leave the rest of the change).
• Taxi drivers are rounded up or given 10 percent.
• And some restaurants distribute the charges to staff under the law preventing withholding of tips (Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023) so ask.
• And do not feel embarrassed to enquire about charges before ordering.
• And if the service is bad you may refuse to pay it and complain to the manager tactfully.

The pub is a fundamental British culture for meeting and relaxing.

• On a group invitation friends exchange rounds, that is each pays in turn for everyone's drinks, and it is part of group etiquette to take part in the round or excuse yourself politely.
• Queuing at the bar is accepted and jumping is not permitted, and wait your turn, and greet the worker.
• You can easily drink non-alcoholic drinks (soft drinks, juice, coffee and tea), and no one usually insists, and if it is said Are you not drinking?
• say I do not drink alcohol gently.
• Do not drink to drunkenness, since public conduct is monitored.
• And you must be 18 to buy alcohol, and proof is sometimes requested (Challenge 25).
• And pubs usually close at half past eleven, and some later.
• And friendships are often built in the pub.

The law obliges restaurants to inform customers of fourteen major allergens (gluten, milk, eggs, nuts, peanuts, fish, crustaceans, sesame, mustard, soy and others) in the menu or on request, so tell the waiter before ordering.

• Halal food is available in Islamic restaurants and many curry, grill and fried chicken restaurants (Nando's and Pizza Express have options) but in ordinary restaurants ask about meats and ingredients (alcohol in sauces and gelatine).
• And vegetarian and vegan options are wide.
• For booking call or use an app such as OpenTable or the site, especially in the evening, at weekends and before holidays, and tell them the number of people and the time.
• Attend on time and inform if you are late or cancel.
• And fees may be imposed for a no-show.

How do you order in a pub?