I’m not sure if there actually is, but there certainly seems to be a smile policy at the Dolphin, the best pub in the world. The mainly young people who work behind the bar are efficient, professional, friendly, and so very, very smiley! It’s one of those pubs where if you go in more than once the bar person mysteriously knows your order – or if for some reason you don’t want your usual, they know what your second choice might be… and if they don’t then there is a pleasant conversation about whatever it is you are drinking.
This evening we went down – walking along the middle of the village street to get there, no traffic, and as we approached there was the hum of happy, cheerful voices. We went in, into our preferred end – only preferred because we are creatures of habit, and there was a single chap at the table by the door reading a book, a group of four women chatting away to each other and a couple sitting at the bar.
I sat down as it wasn’t my turn to buy the first round; our cheery bar person arrived and gave me a wave as he took our order. I love beer but recently I’ve been drinking wine; I started saying to whoever served me that I didn’t mind what wine and they should choose – which led to some enjoyable taste experiences. Tonight Chris the barman decided that I should drink Shiraz – he has worked this out by a process of elimination, and he is absolutely right! He is a delightful young man with the most amazing smile – which completely demonstrates the smile policy which I am sure the pub operates.
Later when we were sitting chatting, another bar person came over for a chat and to collect glasses and he too has a wonderful smile. He is also a great barman! As we sat talking to each other, a couple of young women who also work behind the bar but were off-duty tonight passed us, each with a friendly greeting and a great smile – they weren’t even working but they had the brilliant smile! Alice the landlady appeared with the two pub dogs, Sim and Tim, and all three were extremely smiley, although only Alice spoke to us – the other two, being dogs, don’t actually talk.
As we strolled home, a gentle and pleasant summer rain falling, we commented on how very smiley our pub is! Yes, it is indeed the best pub in the world.
Lois Elsden 