Things to do in a pub while waiting for people to turn up?

[karbon]

So I've arrived earlier than expected. There's no hot barstaff. My mate is about 20 minutes behind. And I'm not about to tan this cider an demand more. Suggestions please?

[leowyatt]

do you get free text messages?

[Del Lardo]

Surf BD on your phone?

[Joe 90]

its a situation i don't enjoy but a situation in which I love, more than usual, being an iPhone user :P

[G|mp]

I normally give people in the pub nicknames, this can be embarrassing later in the night going to the loo and asking "smelly fat dude" to kindly move aside :/

[_dogma_]

I would just drink the drink and ask for another. Then demand your friend buys you another for making you wait :D

[Pebs]

Definitely play on the phone, look casual, don't keep looking at the door, stay calm, don't panic, don't make eye contact, keep drinking. Did I mention don't keep looking at the door?
It's my worst nightmare!

[Desmo]

Go outside, look up at the sign.....are you in the right pub?

[karbon]

by this point i was 15 minutes into the wait and had already done all the forums and facebooking and twittering i could handle :P

one of my mates is the manager but he wasn't in and the rest of his staff have far less chat, sadly.

[Rich_L]

Most pubs have a newspaper somewhere, pick up newspaper, read newspaper is usually what I do :p

[Jingo]

For those who are bored, yet have internet access... there is B3ta :D

[karbon]

Oh look, I've done it again. This time I have nice burbon though, and the bar staff have good chat.

[Blackstar]

You are shocking, twice in once week and no invite. You fail so badly.

[semi-pro waster]

I normally give people in the pub nicknames, this can be embarrassing later in the night going to the loo and asking "smelly fat dude" to kindly move aside :/

Especially awkward when other people realise you're talking to yourself. :p

I've never quite worked out what to do when I'm in the pub by myself beyond the usual chatting to barstaff and/or reading the paper/checking my phone but it doesn't bother me greatly. This is fortunate since I'm often the first one in the pub, lots of my mates won't go into the pub unless they know someone is there - that someone was usually me.

[Del Lardo]

I used to love popping into my local on my own just so I could chat up the barmaids ;D