Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request Pub Bell Service

Today I was in Fort Perch Pub in New Brighton.
I noticed old fashioned buzzers, spaced evenly around the walls- apparantly still used to order drinks from the Bar?
Anybody know when this was generally common in pubs and when it phased out?
I've never heard of this before! Thanks.

They used to still have the buzzer in the "snug" at the old Dale Inn in Seacombe in the 70's ...you paid a small surcharge for the service (extra penny or something).

They still have these in the back room of the Cheshire Cheese in WV - and I understand they still work (although they are no longer 'in use' if you get my meaning)...

when you where in a pub during the 50s and 60s if the pub had not had a make over by then and in one of the rooms {not the bar} you pressed the bell button for service. Hence the term given to the lady who came and asked you for your order {BAR MAID} The entrance to the bar was via a seperate door from outside, the other rooms of the pub where accessed by a different door. Yes the cost of the glass or pint was more than what it cost in the bar. {thats where the term Bar Room price comes from} PROPER PUBS THOSE DAYS

Used those bells many a time in the Perch and across the road in the Commercial. You couldn't move in the back room of the Perch in those days for lifeboat men and needed the barmaid to come to you.

Had to fight your way to the bogs though!

I'm loving the responses. Thanks.
I love how an 'observation' can kick-start a 'forgotten history', here on Wiki.
How did the barmaid know which buzzer to respond to? Was this 'service' originally exclusive to affluent people? (Therefore pay at the end of the evening?) - or- did barmaids run back and forth with payment/change etc?

I think there's a panel in the bar area somewhere with indicators, that showed which button had been pressed...

I don't think they usually ran tabs, back then, it was pay per round. The barmaid would tot up the round (back when people could still add up money in their heads!) - you'd pay her, she would then go get and bring you your drinks (and your change - if any!)

Years ago I used to frequent the Childwall Abbey Hotel, L'pool. In the lounge they had the Cronapress Contact Strip above the wall seats. This was the same bell strip as on the buses for the conductor to press anywhere along its length. How the Bar Maid used to know who had pressed it, I don't know.

I've a length of that strip as a door bell!! I used to know the guy who made and patented it, Stuart McCrone - became a millionaire due to his invention.

Its all a bit upstairs downstairs, in the past civilised society it was far more desirable to press a bell for service rather than what seems to be the way now, whistling and clicking fingers.
I was in an establishment in Dundee, not a pub but a restaurant type of place that had a button on the table, if pressed a light lit up above the table and service was on its way.

Barmaid always had the change on a tray. You took your change and left some kind of tip. They were proper barmaids in those days and could handle three or four orders without the benefit of note books etc.

In The Perch Rock Hotel, it was Jeanie Molaney served the back room & Phylis Donnoley the front. Never went in the darts room!

Stork Hotel in B'head still has them, though not in use. Can recommend the Stork by the way, usually 5 beers on pump and well kept. Place is interesting, all original fittings and tiles.

Thanks for that, had forgotten their names but that brings it back.

The beer is nice but the landlady is a real right harridan!