Tempers flared when Jared Dunn, landlord of the Blue Bell pub in Conwy, Wales, asked 30 or so customers who were singing in Welsh to leave the pub because they don't allow singing and other customers found it disturbing. People were leaving the pub and in some cases not even finishing their meal.
That seems to me a reasonable response to the singing, but there was an angry reaction from some people who contended there was nothing wrong with singing in a pub and thought the landlord was wrong to put a stop to it. Some Welsh speakers thought it was an example of the language being marginalised.
Mr Dunn said "The pub is for everyone's enjoyment, and they didn't conform to a reasonable request. Many pubs have this rule in place, to enable their customers to have some peace and quiet while they're eating. It's the same reason we don't show sports or allow any kind of football chanting."
He has nothing against the Welsh language as his wife is Welsh and his children are learning the language. As it happens the family are moving to nearby Prestatyn in a few weeks, so he will soon leave the absurd row behind.
Jenny and I don't like having to listen to loud background music when we're eating or just chatting in a café or restaurant, so we have every sympathy with Mr Dunn.
Crazy how many people seem to want a row these days - and manage to pin their current bête noire onto any situation.
ReplyDeleteI like a bit of peace and quiet with my food.
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Ms Scarlet: And some people seem to have an awful lot of bêtes noires!
DeleteSome people seem to like to look for trouble....
ReplyDeleteFly: Too true. Like all those rioters in Belfast at the weekend.
DeleteSome people believe only their rights/wants matter. The owner of an establishment gets to set the rules.
ReplyDeleteSandra: Absolutely. And if they're not happy, there must be plenty of other pubs in the area.
DeleteNick, the origin of singing is to get socially connected. When people really sing (not yelling or bawling or half drunk ) I find it quite pleasant Saïd is a wonderful singer and dancer and once people where in a restaurant for a birthday dinner. Saïd noticed it and sang a song for the birthday person. No one protested , I find the landlord not really a funny guy. It's summer , people should be a little more relaxed.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah: Great that Saïd is a wonderful singer and dancer. Of course one person's relaxation is another's annoyance, and clearly some customers weren't enjoying a loud sing-song as they were eating or chatting.
DeleteProbably drunkards, and a culture of entitlement without thought of others. I frequently get on buses on london stinking of weed because of solipsistic morons.
ReplyDeleteLiam: Indeed, a culture of entitlement with no regard for those around them.
DeleteI have mixed feelings. I like quiet. But, I also like to see people having fun. But, I don't like drunken singing. So for me, I guess, it depends.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: I imagine that as it was a pub they were probably the worse for drink.
DeleteAs long as there are signs up saying no loud music/noise so people know what to expect when going in there...I see no problem with what he did.
ReplyDeleteMary: Presumably there are signs to that effect, but it wasn't clear from the report.
Deletei can't bear loud anything when I'm out having a meal, that includes raucous neighbours and ear-breaking speaker music. I don't mind a gentle piano or soft guitar, but that's my limit.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
www: I don't mind low-volume background music that I'm barely aware of, but the music is invariably quite loud and it can be hard to hear what people are saying.
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