Going to the pub on my own

[Anagram of a Shit Name]

I enjoy a pub quiz and there's one at my local every couple of weeks. I used to go with my girlfriend but we are no more so now don't have anyone to go with.

There's a quiz tonight and my plan is to just go on my lonesome and see if it's not too awkward/weird. I have very limited social skills but I feel like f I don't grasp the nettle I'll end up an even sadder loser.

Any tips/advice/encouragement/mocking?

[SpiderChrist]

Go naked and sexually aroused. Guaranteed icebreaker.

[jobotic]

Got no problem going to a pub on my own. I rather enjoy it, not that I get to do it much now.

Not sure about the quiz thing though. I guess if I was doing one with a couple of mates and someone asked to join us I'd think "yeah but what if you're a right annoying arsehole" but I'd probably say yes. Then if they weren't an annoying arsehole it'd all be ace and fun.

So what I'm saying is are you an annoying arsehole at quizzes? Will you tip the table over if someone gives a wrong answer? Or start belming?

[Underturd]

Take a sheep with you, everyone loves sheep.

[Butchers Blind]

Better win. Takes a brave man to enter a pub quiz on his own.

[shoulders]

I enjoy a pub quiz and there's one at my local every couple of weeks. I used to go with my girlfriend but we are no more so now don't have anyone to go with.

There's a quiz tonight and my plan is to just go on my lonesome and see if it's not too awkward/weird. I have very limited social skills but I feel like f I don't grasp the nettle I'll end up an even sadder loser.

Any tips/advice/encouragement/mocking?

Probably 40-50% of my bar going is solo, the advice I'll give is unfortunately trite, but as good as you'll get - just do it.

If you are going in order to start conversations etc, join a team probably ask the quiz master or go on those meetup sites where 8 randomers turn up and perhaps 2 of them might get on as pub acquaintances and one of them won't make eye contact and play on their machine.

If you want a quiet pint and some innocuous excuanges with regulars go somewhere a quiz isn't on that has a fireplace, comfortable seating and lighting that seems to be trying to lull you into the netherworld.

[checkoutgirl]

I used to go to the pub alone for poker. Made a couple of friends and won a couple of bob. It really stood out when anyone took the game seriously. It was more a piss up with a game going on as well.

[imitationleather]

I was doing a pub quiz (not on my own) and there was someone there on his own and I invited him to join the team. We came last but got on like a house on fire. Will probably never see him again but it was fun. So go for it.

[boki]

I enjoy a pub quiz and there's one at my local every couple of weeks. I used to go with my girlfriend but we are no more so now don't have anyone to go with.

There's a quiz tonight and my plan is to just go on my lonesome and see if it's not too awkward/weird. I have very limited social skills but I feel like f I don't grasp the nettle I'll end up an even sadder loser.

Any tips/advice/encouragement/mocking?

I might not be the best person to answer this as I'm the kind of dangerous loner who thinks nothing of going the boozer on me ones, but I'd say a quiz night is ideal for this, except for the fact that you'll be at a disadvantage compared to all the teams.  Mind you, if you're doing alright on your tod, you might find a group of people will want to recruit you and you might even make new friends or join a hooligan firm and/or sex cult.  You never know until you go.

[phes]

Go at least once a week on my own. Quiz sounds like a non starter though for socialising unless you intend to join another team. Afternoon and early evening is where that's at. You'll meet some sad cases of course but you'll also meet some of the most interesting people with unusual lives and stories. Once you get to evening, it's pretty much a done deal. People know where they're going and who they plan to speak to. It's a rare bar that manages to encourage interaction in the evenings

[Cuellar]

Go, do the quiz on your own, Google all the answers, win, never return.

BOSH

[steve98]

*Sleepy, Bashful, Grumpy, Happy...*

[Anagram of a Shit Name]

Go naked and sexually aroused. Guaranteed icebreaker.

The only way I would consider going.

Got no problem going to a pub on my own. I rather enjoy it, not that I get to do it much now.

Not sure about the quiz thing though. I guess if I was doing one with a couple of mates and someone asked to join us I'd think "yeah but what if you're a right annoying arsehole" but I'd probably say yes. Then if they weren't an annoying arsehole it'd all be ace and fun.

So what I'm saying is are you an annoying arsehole at quizzes? Will you tip the table over if someone gives a wrong answer? Or start belming?

This could be a problem. 100% arsehole.

However last time I went (with the gf) we were sat next to another couple and I got on fabulously with the woman, so hopefully they're there. The problem is they know everyone and may already be surrounded by a gaggle of groupies so it would be definitely weird to insert myself in that circumstance.

I think my problem is that I over think everything and plan ahead so much that if it doesn't go to plan I panic and just fuck off.

I'm going to have to force myself to go in, get a drink and not look for the exit at the earliest opportunity if I'm not the toast of the pub in the first 5 minutes.

Fucking hell I'm pathetic sometimes!

[Anagram of a Shit Name]

I have never and would never Google an answer that I actually know but just can't think of. Nope. Never

[bgmnts]

I used to go with my girlfriend but we are no more

However last time I went (with the gf) we were sat next to another couple and I got on fabulously with the woman.

[steve98]

Just be careful, is all I'm saying -

"They big on Snow White where you come from are they mate? Encourage you to memorize all the dwarfs' names at your madrassa?"

[imitationleather]

The main thing that would put me off doing a pub quiz on my own is that it'd be too fucking hard and I'd just end up really annoyed.

[dissolute ocelot]

I hate being on a quiz team with people I don't know or don't regularly quiz with. Are they full of shit? Will they listen to you? Will you have to spend ten minutes arguing your case for every question? Are they just going to write down stupid answers?

But aside from that, go to the pub on your own, why not? Certainly people do pub quizzes alone. I've seen them put up a good fight. A guy I slightly know who's a big quiz wizard (I think he was on University Challenge one year) does quizzes on his own but people do tend to try and sign him up. You could try sitting at the bar and getting the bar staff and random drunks to add their worthless opinions. And while you can't be too social while the quiz is on, you can talk to people after the quiz or even between rounds. Apparently it's even acceptable to approach strangers in the toilet and discuss the quiz with them, but that might be more for the professional talker-to-strangers.

[imitationleather]

I would not be a happy man if someone approached me in the toilets and tried to have a discussion with me about anything.

[Brian Freeze]

Go, do the quiz on your own, Google all the answers, win, never return.

BOSH

I predict that wearing a cape when you stride out victorious will really enhance the experience for everyone involved.

[shiftwork2]

No problem going to the pub on my own.  I have a real block on eating alone though.  Even with all the advice about taking a book I'm just too self conscious.  A third of my holidays are solo Don Draper Goes Off affairs so I often rely on delivery from somewhere nice.

[Norton Canes]

Going to the pub on your own is great because unlike when you're with friends, there's nothing to stop you just sitting there and imagining what it would be like knowing everyone on the other tables.

[dontpaintyourteeth]

I'm usually swarmed by screaming fans and admirers wherever I go so I'm never alone at the pub.

[Underturd]

I don't think I've ever been to the pub on my own, maybe I should try it, in case it turns out to be the first stage of a bizarre adventure of some k8nd.

[thenoise]

Agree that early evening pub visits are the way to make friends. Or at least were best part of ten years ago when I used to do it.

If you sit at the bar lots of people will talk to you, even the staff if there is a lull. If there's nobody in grab a paper and try not to get too angry about it. Don't get your phone out, ffs, save it for home.

[Butchers Blind]

If you do go to the pub on your own, be prepared for someone to put the Eric Carmen classic on the jukebox.

[Anagram of a Shit Name]

Well I'm in. Nearly bailed straight away because the couple i kind of know aren't here and a lad i do know but hes a right cunt is. However 2 budweisers down and im sat at the bar doing it on my own. Fucks sake

[Tony Tony Tony]

Is putting 50p on the pool table to play winner stays on still a thing?

[Anagram of a Shit Name]

Difficult to play pool on your own

[poodlefaker]

Yeeeaaarss ago I'm in the pub midweek with GF having the breakup convo. She goes to the loo for a sniffle and bloke sidles up with a pintpot full of coins and says You in the quiz mate? Two quid a team, and I go Wha? Er yeah ok. So for the rest of the evening she's like It's not you it's me and I'm listening out for Which midlands team won the FA cup in 1987 and sneaking the answer behind my glass while she's blowing her nose. End of night I'm up on stage for the tie-break, which year did the Titanic sink, closest answer wins. Boom! Twenty quid to me. She's like This is exactly what I've been talking about and I'm like come on, we can have a chinese.