Why are there no bar stools in English pubs?

Question

I've been to many various establishments all over England during my vacation, and haven't found a single bar* with bar stools. Do you know why this is? Do Brits not like to sit at the bar?

*Hard Rock Cafe outlets are not counted in this question.

Answer 1

They are bar stools in more provincial places, but busier places want to keep the bar free to allow customers to order.

Answer 2

I could show you about 5 near me. (Hull)

But they started drifting out when they were used as weapons.

Answer 3

They kept falling off them, so they took them away.

When the pub is busy, its more difficult for people to get to the bar to be served if there are people sat on bar stools - or even just stools in the way.

Answer 4

Maybe its because they are worried that to many people would fall off them when they have had a few also on a more serious note it may hinder people getting served when there is a rush on such as we have actually won a football match!

Answer 5

Its so they cant be used as a weapon against sombody incase there is a fight.There used to be bar stools but now there is too much violence in english pubs

Answer 6

they are all over devon.

Answer 7

Well, as I sit in my local pub, making use of their wi-fi whilst I wait for my friends to show up, i'm sat on a bar stool, up by the bar, talking to John (the barkeep)

He tells me that a lot of pubs/bars have removed bar stools because they were being used in fights, as well drunks were falling off them. Likewise in some city bars, because of the steady stream of punters, they need to keep the bar clear for orders.

In local, countryside pubs (not owned by a chain), in 90% of them, there are bar stools.

Answer 8

For health and safety reasons.  There are still ample stools in the toilets.

Answer 9

We love sitting at the bar and socialising. Quite a few pubs have got rid of the bar stools though, they say it clogs up the bar so service is slower. Bring back the bar stools, especially the little group at the corner of the bar. And lift the smoking ban why they are at it.

Answer 10

if youve ever been to a pub when its busy youll know why

Answer 11

There are plenty in the pubs here in Brighton - maybe you've been hanging out in the wrong establishments...

Answer 12

We have them in Leeds and Tamworth, it must be the rest of the country who are barbarians.......

Answer 13

Just do as I do friend stand at the bar with your foot on the rail, really relaxing and comfortable !

Answer 14

The propriators want to be sure you can still stand, if not...they cut you off!

Answer 15

Yes we love to sit at the bar, in proper pubs you should always find a bar stool are you going to city pubs/bars which have little character?

Answer 16

I think you simply didn't go into many establishments

Certainly the quieter more local pubs people sit at the bar quite a lot- they do in my local

Answer 17

Some do, some dont, many of the older pubs do, but for the modern busy ones they clog up the bar area so you cant order a drink....its not like the US where you have waitresses, here, you go to the bar so in a busy pub, stools can be impractical, but you can still find them, but look in older, out of the way pubs.

Answer 18

Simply a safety factor I would assume. In case of a need to evacuate the pub through emergency, so no one falls over them in the rush to get out, and because they could make a nice weapon.

Having said that, up here in the north east of England, we do have pubs with bar stools.

mike t.

Answer 19

Hard to get served if people are sitting at the bar so they usually take them away during busy periods.

Answer 20

there are plenty of pubs with bar stools but if you sit at the bar in a busy pub you are just in the way, and if you get between me and my beer you'll be wearing the barstool as a hat. hope that helps.