Top 10 bartender pet peeves

Even the most patient, attentive and professional bartender has a few occupational gripes, as this top 10 bartender pet peeves shows

With the help of a few industry members, we roundup the top 10 bartender pet peeves

Whether it’s indecisive customers, server snobbery, or so-called “bar limpets”, there are a number of annoyances felt widely throughout the bar world, as with any public service role.

With the help of well-known bartenders JJ Goodman, founder of London Cocktail Club, Jon Hughes, bar manager of Edinburgh’s Bramble bar, and bartender-turned-author Dan Miles, we countdown the top 10 bartender pet peeves.

For a more in-depth look at a bartender’s life, take a look at Miles’ new book Filthy Still: a tale of travel, sex and perfectly made cocktails. Take a look at the first chapter of his book here.

Click through the following pages to discover which things really get bartenders’ goats. Are you a bartender with your own set of pet peeves to share? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Violence

A well-know occupational hazard for bartenders is violent behaviour among customers who have had one too many, either as the object of rage or in an attempt break up a fight. “Any kind of violence in a bar especially towards staff is a pet peeve of mine,” said Miles. “I was once stabbed on the job with a biro of all things and still have a scar on my ribs to show for it.”

Flirty customers

For JJ Goodman, a personal gripe is girls who flirt with male bartenders with the expectation they will be showered with free cocktails. Jon Hughes expands on this, claiming “customers “who actually think the female bar staff are going to sleep with them” are particularly tiresome.

Song requests

“People who ask for songs to be played, then insult you when they don’t get their way. ” – JJ Goodman.

Bartender snobbery

According to Hughes, professional obligation should always outweigh personal preference when it comes to cocktail-making. “I really can’t deal with bartenders rolling their eyes when someone orders a drink,” he said. “Sure, I might not go for something like a French Martini but, when it comes down to it, I’m not paying for it and I’m not drinking it, so I think we can probably check our indignation when a customer places a perfectly valid order.”

Indecisive customers

While most respected bartenders are happy to assist and educate unsure customers, a widely felt annoyance in the industry is indecisive customers at the busiest peak of the evening. Miles says a pet peeve of his is “people who wait until you serve them to start thinking about what they’d like. Or even worse, wait until that moment to look over their shoulder and shout “Guys what do you want?”

Happy hour extension

Customers often rightly believe they deserve great service when booking large tables, but some take it step too far. “It bother me when people book tables and ask for the happy hour to be extended because they are a big booking and are going to spend lots of money,” says Goodman. “We look after friends family and regulars, not one-off bookings.”

“I know the owner”

“The phrase ‘I know the owner’, or even worse, ‘I know your owner’,” – Miles.

Staff favouritism

Miles also claims that fussy customers can unwittingly disparage bartenders by claiming they’d prefer another. “Another pet peeve of mine is people who ask if another staff member is working and then act disappointed when you tell them its their day off because ‘he knows how I like my drink’.”

Gendered drinks opinions

According to Hughes: “I’m over people gendering their drinks. Mostly, it’s guys wrinkling their nose at a drink just because it’s pink and straight up, or worrying about something being ‘too girly’, or flat-out asking for ‘a manly drink’, like a cask strength testosterone, I guess? I can’t help but think they’re missing out on a lot of really awesome drinks.”

The bar limpet

The most widely and acutely felt bartender pet peeve appears to be customers who do not abide by closing times. Goodman identifies “people who refuse to leave because they haven’t finished their drinks over an HOUR after closing.” Meanwhile, Miles notes a handy, if somewhat unsubtle, tactic to get rid of so-called ‘bar limpets’ – “I find a vacuum cleaner to be natures way of telling you to go home,” he says.