The New Inn, Clitheroe

Having been to this pub in the evening, it appeared to be well used and popular. However, on the afternoon of the 18th of Feb. I visited this place and was shattered to meet a female who was completely oblivious to who was in and who was being served and was much more interested in the newspaper. She half smiled once or twice at people she obviously knew, including a guy called William and blanked others, including me. It went something like this:- Hi, pint of Guiness please and a smile.' Nothing'. A minute or two later,thanks love, cheers, with a smile. 'Nothing'. That's no reaction at all. She might have previously worked with potatoes,(and back to the Daily Mail.) Later, a chap left and she managed to say 'bye William'. I offered, 'place is full of Williams' and smiled; the reaction was; absolutely nothing at all, that's nothing, no reply, like I wasn't there. Another chap stood at the other side for several minutes until she decided to see him and serve him. If this was the Landlady, then she shouldn't be. If she is a bar person, then lose her, because with pubs closing in unprecedented numbers, this is guarenteed to lose more customers, at a time when every customer is like gold. I might point out that I have been in pubs all over the country,for many years. From 'posh establishments' to 'rough' inner cities and mostly in between, but nothing has ever come close to this cold, bored and generally disinterested attitude that I encountered today. Any reaction would be most welcome, for the sake of the English way of life, before it is extinguished forever.

18 Feb 2009 17:45