Anyone else enjoy going to bars or pubs?

[Metalhead]

There are a couple of places near where I live where I enjoy to go alone, get a small table to myself, sip a beer or two, and watch the people around me while enjoying the dim lighting and the music on the jukebox. Even better is when I go to a place that has a live band. Even if the band sucks, I still usually enjoy the atmosphere. I may be alone and not really interacting with anybody, but I certainly do not feel lonely in such a place.

Anybody else here have a favorite bar they like going to?

 

[Dadwith2Autisticsons]

Yes, and no. The one place we like has a bar, dining area, and lots of tables, but it is a child-themed place too with a large video game room section, a large toddler play sensory enclosed area too, and a full size bowling area in the center. Where there are lots of persons, I typically do not enjoy, but as our oldest eight year old Autistic son loves this place for the games, bowling, and for his karaoke singing each week, I can have fun when he has fun. I do not socialize there.

 

[Metalhead]

Yes, and no. The one place we like has a bar, dining area, and lots of tables, but it is a child-themed place too with a large video game room section, a large toddler play sensory enclosed area too, and a full size bowling area in the center. Where there are lots of persons, I typically do not enjoy, but as our oldest eight year old Autistic son loves this place for the games, bowling, and for his karaoke singing each week, I can have fun when he has fun. I do not socialize there.

Yeah, the places I tend to go to are considerably less sensory overloading than that. Like I said, dim lights, music at an appropriate volume level, people keeping to themselves and using their indoor voices. That’s my kind of bar.

 

[Mia]

One of my favourites was the russian tea room, they usually served teas and coffees, they had chess and checkerboards painted onto the tables. When you ordered the waiter brought a box of game pieces.
Another place was a trivia bar, with lots of people involved in playing trivial pursuit in large and small groups which you could join in on.
Also went to a place they called a fern bar, lots of plants, booths, low music, dim lights, a quiet place to talk or not talk.

 

[OkRad]

I have Sensory Processing Disorder and I can hardly even stand Wal-Mart. The carts grating and the music, etc. Good thing they sell a variety of ear plugs. I always have them on me somewhere, but if I go there and need extra...well, there they are.

But no, I don't like pubs etc. I went a few times with earplugs in, but I found that I could be doing other things. The people there were not really wanting to talk about anything other than vapid stuff I could get anywhere. It just seemed a waste of time, but that does not mean it was! I maybe missed a good opportunity to connect with the world.

 

[Quart]

Used to. I am known for having quite the obsession with them and, given that I'm not already part of the established social fabric of the joint, people would prefer I weren't there. I'll go occasionally but the main point is that I don't actually work and, therefore, I may come into conflict with people.

Other point is that I'm technical about what I like. I'm there for the beer whereas for others it's more a meeting place. I'll pop in occasionally but really I think I might be a guest appearance. The main point is not to drink at night too much - the atmosphere changes and people come out to let their hair down.

The other point is that I like dark mild and it's not a popular beer any more. It's a beer mainly of the past - I got odd looks as a teen for liking the stuff.

 

[Bolletje]

Yup, I like bars. Always have. Used to like clubs too, but as I get older I prefer just sitting down and chatting to people with a drink in my hand.

 

[SusanLR]

The only reason I will go to a bar is for a show.
Like a band, Karaoke, and such.
They used to have the old fashioned pin ball, Pac-man and such arcade games that I like.
Can't find them anywhere now.
Never went for drinking or socialising.
IF I want a drink to relax, preferred as an after dinner drink in a restaurant or in the comfort of my own home.

 

[Progster]

I like bars and restaurants, as long as it's quiet and not too busy and no smoke. I can't stand smoke!
I find it hard to have a conversation in bars because of the background noise.

 

[Quart]

I like bars and restaurants, as long as it's quiet and not too busy and no smoke. I can't stand smoke!
I find it hard to have a conversation in bars because of the background noise.

I'd support giving bars greater leeway to cater to their smoking customers. But if it's not wanted by the pub trade or the consumers, let it be. Really, it's not my argument as I don't smoke. I'm more into my beer.

 

[Progster]

I'd support giving bars greater leeway to cater to their smoking customers. But if it's not wanted by the pub trade or the consumers, let it be. Really, it's not my argument as I don't smoke. I'm more into my beer.

I'm very sensitive to tobacco smoke, I find it impossible to tolerate. People smoking in a bar excludes me from that place. Many people feel this way and avoid bars because of this. That's not fair, they have just as much right to be there as anybody else. People who smoke can do so in their own private space, or outside, or in designated smoking areas.

 

[Quart]

I'm very sensitive to tobacco smoke, I find it impossible to tolerate. People smoking in a bar excludes me from that place. Many people feel this way and avoid bars because of this. That's not fair, they have just as much right to be there as anybody else. People who smoke can do so in their own private space, or outside, or in designated smoking areas.

The thing is, it really depends. If I lived in Malta or Cyprus I'd be happy to smoke outside. But if it's the north of England in December and it's pissing down then no, I wouldn't be coming out if I couldn't smoke or use an e-cig. E-cigs are tolerated in a lot of places (they're legal) so I think that will be the way to go.

Hopefully the pub trade and the Government can redress the balance, or use extractor fans (which takes the smoke out of the air) so that everyone is happy.

But as I said, it's not my argument, it doesn't personally affect me. The smokers need to fight this themselves.

 

[Progster]

Hopefully the pub trade and the Government can redress the balance, or use extractor fans (which takes the smoke out of the air) so that everyone is happy.

Where I live, most of the restaurants and bars have extractor fans, but they just aren't efficient enough. They can't keep up with the amount of smoke being produced, and bar owners often don't turn them on or turn them down low in order to save on heating bills, so the smoke still remains in the air. If I'm sat next to a group of smokers, I still get their smoke, extracter fan or not. So no, they don't offer an adequate solution and everybody won't be happy. E-cigs are a better solution, IMO.

Banning smoking from public is the best thing the British government, and other governments, ever did. I can go out for a coffee, a meal or enjoy a cool beer and not have to choke on other people's smoke all the time.

The smokers need to fight this themselves.

It's up to the smoker to ensure that their smoke doesn't impose on other people. They have a right to their lifestyle choice, but so does everybody else and they do not have the right to impose it on others. When it comes to conflicting rights, smokers will always have the weaker argument because it is their smoke which is causing the issue, they are the ones whose action causes the issue and not the non-smokers - non smokers aren't doing any anything, other than coming to a bar in order to have a drink.

 

[Southern Discomfort]

No and yes. If I can stand the company I'm with then yes. If it's a cacophony of instruments, loud talking and laughing then not so much.

For example I recently had a evening out with my cousin who I enjoy the company of very much, we had a meal in a local pub, fair few people were in there but not enough that we could not say, "There isn't a lot of people in here; why is that?" The food was great so I cannot say it was because of that.

But anyway, the flip side of my example was a night out to a small pub with my father who plays a banjo, he has music sessions at the end of each month, and whilst I did enjoy brutally murdering a couple of hours with few ciders and pack of sweet chilli crisps (which are now my favourite flavour), I cannot say I will make it a regular thing for me since I do not play banned Joes nor cordless instruments that have 'cord' in their name. Not to mention that whilst I appreciate the looseness that comes with the spritely spirits, I miss my faculties once I back back home. Logic is my haven.

 

[Thinx]

I don't feel confident to go to a venue on my own. Plus I rarely go with anyone else being fairly non social or asocial? If that's a word. In my generation it was not usual for women to go alone to bars or pubs although some did. I sometimes did, I liked poetry events and folk clubs and smaller disco type clubs. I don't seem to do that much now though I stay in mostly after work. Watch television. Read. Think.

 

[Quart]

I don't feel confident to go to a venue on my own. Plus I rarely go with anyone else being fairly non social or asocial? If that's a word.

"Asocial" is a word. In Dutch (not a language I speak) "asociaal" means antisocial, which I'm sure you're not.

In my generation it was not usual for women to go alone to bars or pubs although some did. I sometimes did, I liked poetry events and folk clubs and smaller disco type clubs. I don't seem to do that much now though I stay in mostly after work. Watch television. Read. Think.

Whereabouts are you from? You sound like you're from the UK, probably England.

I'm sure if you're female someone would go out with you for a drink.

 

[Thinx]

Being somewhat nonsocial means I don't want to go for drinks with others I guess. I don't enjoy it.

 

[Quart]

Being somewhat nonsocial means I don't want to go for drinks with others I guess. I don't enjoy it.

Not even fellow auties? If you're British, there'll be a social scene local to you that you may partake in.

 

[Fade2black]

When I was younger, I tried to be "normal" and go to bars. It usually ended up with someone wanting to fight me. Having AS means being socially challenged. As I've become older, I've recognized that being slightly different while appearing physically normal is often confusing and mis-understood by others, often in a negative way. Now I avoid any place where there are anymore than a few people.

 

[Mr Allen]

I LOVE the Pub! Shame Dad would rather go to the Dentist probably than spend time in a Pub.