drinking in bars by yourself (girls in particular)

I don't often specifically just go out for a drink on my own IYSWIM, but have no problem getting to a pub/bar early if meeting friends/OH and having a drink alone, as long as I have a magazine or something.

Quite often on Sat evenings I go to our local with a book/mag and have a beer or 2, and meet OH there when he's on his way back from football. Can't do that today tho coz the idiot has left his mobile at home so I can't call him to make plans. Bah!

I've done it, but usually only if I'm going to be meeting someone there and I'm early or they are late. Sometimes I'm fine with it, and other times I feel less comfortable - mostly for the reasons you've mentioned or the fact that sometimes some random guy will assume that because you are in a bar on your own you must want to be picked up, and insist on trying to make conversation.

I've done it a few times but always feel self conscious too. Its not so bad if its a bar I use regularly and know the bar staff or if I have some paperwork to do to keep me busy whilst I'm there.

I do it sometimes but only if I have something to read. I like to have something to 'do' otherwise I'm just gazing around! I'm not a stunner (not a complete munter either ?) so it's very unlikely that I'd get leched at!

EY - I wouldn't class myself as a stunner either - beer goggles (theirs) and my own internal wierdo magnet have a lot to answer for!?

DO you attract the weirdies Elle? ?

Indeed, me too - it seems that sometimes, woman in bar not wearing sackcloth and ashes, and with the correct number of eyes and ears, is fair game ?

?I seem to!

I remember one in particular, who claimed to be 700 years old and wanted to read my runes naked in the moonlight! Luckily I wasn't on my own for that one, my friend was there to witness it - otherwise I don't know if anyone would have believed me! He seemed to really believe what he was telling me - he looked a little offended when I couldn't keep a straight face....??

I've never drank in a bar/pub on my own. In fact I can count on one hand how many times I have actually been to the counter and bought drinks! I've led a sheltered life.

If I did ever take up drinking on my own then guaranteed I wouldnt be hassled by men! I think I give the impression of 'dont talk to me'

I don't go to a pub on my own for a drink but as others have said if I'm meeting a friend in a bar and I'm early or they are running late it doesn't bother me being in the pub my myself.

I sometime go to MrJs work to meet him when he finishes and if I'm early I will sit at the bar but I know the barstaff so it doesn't feel like I'm on my own. And the other week when he had an interview in Glasgow, I bought a magazine and sat in lloyds (I think it was) and had a glass of wine.

You'd be surprised. I'm a sulky miss at the best of times, and it seems to egg men on if anything. I think they like a challenge - pull the miserable cow ?

Elle - loving the weirdo story ?. I think my favourite weirdo was one who was a roadie for some unmemorable band. (Apparently they'd left him dead drunk in some faraway city and several years later, he'd found his way home ?). He made me a special stash bag which he fervently made a display of giving to me (er, I don't even have a stash) and then, having announced his love for me in this way, tried to physically pick me up and carry me to the men's toilets to consummate our relationship, I imagine. Niiiice.

Yeah I do this. Although I would choose my outlet very carefully iyswim. There's something very free about being able to sit down with yourself and just be. The way I see it is I tend to take no notice of people out on their own when I am with others so why on earth would anybody care about me. And if they do they are hardly going to come up to me and tell me - well I hope not?

I had to do a lot of travelling for a job I had a few years back and I ended up eating out on my own all the time (through necessity when staying in hotels etc.) and I actually found it peaceful being in my own company. Oh, and I enjoy watching other people (coz I'm extremely nosey?)

If I do attract weirdos one flash of the wedding ring usually does the trick.

I travel a lot with work and stay in a hotel most week nights and will often go down to the bar/restaurant for dinner. More and more lately I have been getting room service though.

I don't know what it is about me but I seem to attract weird men everywhere I go and in hotels it's 10 times worse because I think I'm young and sitting alone they gravitate towards me. I've had a guy sit on the table next to me and try to strike up a conversation all through dinner before slipping me a copy of his room key and saying 'you know where to find me if you want some more company' ?

Then there was the guy that came to sit next to me in the bar and told me all about how his dad has been trying to kill himself, and I really didn't know what to say. He just walked up sat down and came out with that as his first line.

I do this too. I always take something to read with me if I am eating/drinking alone, but I have started to get room service more often. It's nice to indulge myself by eating dinner on my bed in my slobby tracksuit trousers

Oh dear, if i carried a mobile and you had the number you could have called me, i was enjoying a cold glass of wine after shopping today, at least you know where you are with internet weirdos from hitched ?

Oh well, thanks for the thought anyway ? If I see a woman sitting drinking alone after shopping in the future, I'll go descend on them. It probably won't be you, but at least I can pretend ?

I used to love eating out on my own when I travelled a lot in my last job. I always took a magazine though- easier to keep open on the table than a book.

I went out for a drink a couple of times while I was on maternity leave- just fancied a glass of wine in the sun and took advantage of a sleeping baby in his pram to go into a bar and have a lovely indulgent glass of wine and read the paper.