Hoole Pubs Early Doors Experience

You may have read my first “Early Doors Experience” post from a few weeks ago. If not, you can read it HERE. As you will no doubt understand, this is a vital service that the public is crying out for. A delicate, often fraught exercise that needs to be done. Somebody has to do it as they say. I don’t mind popping out to a few pubs and reporting back for the greater good. This then is a follow up. It is my Hoole pubs early doors experience. I may have to do this in two parts (I don’t mind going the extra mile……honest!!).

Why two parts? Because I only went to the two Hoole pubs. I had intended to go to three, but you have to book the Royal Oak in advance. Which in itself is a sort of partial feedback. A heads up then, don’t consider going there if you haven’t booked a table.

Booking a table in the Royal Oak is understandable as it is only a very small pub. So, at least you are aware that you need to book.

What’s Happening With The Flookersbrook?

I suppose you can also add a fourth pub to the list in that it looks like you can forget the Flookersbrook. It doesn’t look like it has reopened since lockdown rules have been relaxed. Mind you it was always hit and miss as to whether it would open or not well before lockdown.

The landlord always seems to be painting the fence though. Not sure why if he never opens. I don’t even know if it his decision not to open, or the brewery or owners. If it is his then maybe he should step aside and let another landlord to give it a go.

There are rumours that things are going to be happening with the site, including the empty furniture shop next door, but if it is possible to open the pub for whatever time may be left, then why not do it? Or, let someone else have a go.

There may be a young couple somewhere looking to cut their teeth on pub management. So, a pub like the Flookers could be a good challenge. Just a thought.

Reopening or not, they have a lovely fence.

Hoole Pubs Early Doors Experience – Which Ones Did I Visit

The two Hoole pubs that I did visit were the Bawn Lodge and the Bromfield. First off was the Bawn Lodge. In short, the way the manager and his staff had everything well boxed off was top drawer.

From the moment we entered the gardens and waited to sign the register to seeing a member of the bar staff clean the table we were sat at only seconds after we departed from the table, the service and the adherence to the procedures was first class.

That in itself is not surprising. The Bawn Lodge is such a well run establishment at any time really. So, to see how efficient they were was to be expected in a way.

We initially queued for a few minutes until we had to register and sanitise our hands at the station by the entrance. Luckily a table was available indoors. A member of the bar staff took our order at the table and returned with our drinks. All the bar staff wore face masks.

Payment by card is the preferred method of payment as and when you get your drinks. In other words, consider a no tab option. Food was also being served, so you could have a bite to eat as well as enjoy a drink. For the time being the Lodge will be closing at 9pm during the week. Possibly 10pm at the weekend. It will be easy enough to check while you are there, but to be on the safe side maybe not try to venture in at 8:45pm.

All in all a very pleasant and safe experience. And to top it all, a cracking pint of Theakstons!!! Result!!!

Hoole Pubs Early Doors Experience – Next Port Of Call The Bromfield

After the impressive visit to the Bawn Lodge, I wandered off into Faulkner Street. The initial intention was, as I already mentioned, to pop into the Royal Oak. The sandwich board message announcing a booking was required, put paid to that. Not to worry. There’s always another day.

So, off to the Brom it was then. For as long as I can remember the Brom has always been one of the most popular Hoole pubs. Not on this night it seemed. Not many people were in. Which in a big pub like the Brom is noticeable. Still, not to worry, it wasn’t the numbers present in these Hoole pubs ‘experiment’ that interested me particularly.

The Bromfield – The Most Intricate Procedures Of All

Grabbing a pint in the Brom was a bit different to the other pubs in a few ways. Entering the pub there was now the common sight of a register and sanitisation station.

I was handed a laminated A4 register instruction sheet to take with me to my designated seat. See the image below. There are two instructions for mobile phone registering. The first was to scan a QR code. I wasn’t sure what that entailed. Apparently I needed an app for that. As I didn’t have one I skipped to option 2. You can see the texting instructions on the sheet below.

Having followed the steps I pressed “send” only to receive a message that there would be charges to send the text. Really? How much? And payable to who?

Not knowing the answer to those questions above, I didn’t send. Not only because I wasn’t sure of the text charges but I also wanted to confirm that their manual booking in system was functioning OK. Thinking about it, I’m not sure if a manual option was offered as soon as I entered. I don’t think it was.

As it was, to be immediately presented with the laminated registration instruction sheet, suggests that this method was their preferred method of registration. Fair enough.

No Mobile Registration – What Next?

Here was an odd situation. Because I couldn’t register by using my mobile phone, I asked the lady at the desk by the doorway if I could sign the manual register as I couldn’t register by phone. She replied that there was no need. Even though I made it clear that I hadn’t signed in, I can only guess she misheard me. Or, they didn’t have a manual signing in procedure?

The upshot therefore if you are going to The Brom is to make sure you take your phone with you. And, make sure you either have, or can download the required app. Alternatively find out how much the text charge is and text instead.

Ideally though it would be better to register manually as soon as you enter. Or at least be given the option.

***NB: Why do people give bogus names and numbers when manually registering? I can’t get my head around that. If it is a security and a privacy issue then I suppose that’s a point. But why not ask the question as to how secure and private signing a register is? Rather than add your name as “Mickey Mouse” for instance. Bizarre.***

Hoole Pubs Early Doors Experience – Ordering A Drink In The Brom

Ordering a drink was all very thorough and organised. If somewhat contradictory in approach in certain respects. For instance, I requested a pint while sat at my table.

You could however queue to go to the bar yourself if you wished. There was a series of “one way” mats on the floor snaking their way to the bar. Once at the bar, you could order then move onto the next circular mat by the the till to pay.

However in my case at the table, the barman brought the drink on a tray and asked me to take it from the tray and place it on the table.

Not a problem, but I thought, how did the pint get on the tray in the first place? I didn’t place it there so I’m guessing it was a fair chance the barman did. So, why did it require me to take it from the tray? Not sure about that.

As previously mentioned, the preferred method of payment in the Bawn Lodge was by card. So, I asked the barman how he wanted paying. Payment was fine by either cash or card. Cash it was then. I took a fiver from my pocket and went to hand it to the barman. He didn’t take it but instead told me to put it on the tray. Again, fair enough.

But as he’s walking away I’m thinking, I wonder how that fiver is going to get into the till. I’m not going to put it in there, he is isn’t he? Sure enough he did.

Moments later he returned with my change. And you guessed it. It was on the tray and I was requested to remove it from the tray. No prizes for guessing what my question is regarding how the change got onto the tray in the first place.

Call Of Nature Needed – I Hope This Is Quick

As you do, I felt the need to go to the gents to powder my nose. Going by other pub toilet visits this should be fairly straightforward. Imagine my surprise when I got to the door of the gents and saw this below……

There was a one-in-one out policy. Again, fair enough. I’ll go with the flow me. (No pun intended!!!). As you can see there is a vacant (green) or occupied (red) dial to take care of. The dial was set (as you can see) to vacant. So, I ventured in. Only to find that there was one bloke still in there. He was finished and on the face of it he looked OK and his elbows, from what I could see, were in working order.

Why didn’t he slide the dial across then? I don’t know. Maybe his elbows were playing up after all? I must admit I didn’t get the slide the dial with your elbow requirement at all. Slide the dial with your elbow but open the door with your hand? Very strange.

If that is the policy then not a problem. The safety procedures were well into overdrive in the Brom. That is just a statement of fact, not a criticism. Would the toilet procedure work, say at a weekend, when the pub was busier? There was also a sign that said not to queue in the corridor outside the toilets.

I mentioned the procedures to a neighbour who normally frequents the Brom but hasn’t since re-opening. His reaction was “forget that, I’m not bothering with pubs for a while yet then.” Well, I think he said “forget that”

Hoole Pubs Early Doors Experience

I still need to try the Faulkner and the Oaklands. I will do in due course. In summary, it was clear to see that both the Bawn Lodge and the Brom took safety and security measures very seriously.

Bear in mind the object of these “early doors” posts are to let people know the procedures in place in various pubs. The decision whether to go or not is up to the individual of course. I wouldn’t try and suggest a visit to pubs in general is back to normal and all regular pub goers should go. I know some are still very apprehensive. And I can see that.

But, having said that, it is still a very welcome experience. The pubs have certainly done their homework and have adhered to their customers safety and comfort. They need commending for that.

In a nutshell, if you are still undecided about going back into a pub, maybe my articles on my early doors experiences has helped paint a picture as to what is involved. For even further clarity, it may well be worth giving the pub you plan to visit a call beforehand. From my own point of view, I would have no hesitation visiting either of the two mentioned above again soon.

Thanks for reading my Hoole Pubs Early Doors Experience. I hope it has been of use.

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