If you enjoy going out and imbibing with friends, at some point you’ve probably realized you should plan a bar crawl. Themed or unthemed, it’s a great way to check out all of the amazing places your city or town has to offer.
But, planning the perfect pub crawl requires a little more thought than you might imagine. If you’re in charge of creating this experience for a group of people, there are some things you’re going to want to consider…
Sometimes The Bar Doesn’t Want To Crawl
First of all, the bars might not be that into you.
I know what you’re thinking… who doesn’t want ME!? I’m an angel baby and I’m bringing people with their pockets full of hard-earned cash ready to be deployed at their bar. If you’ve prearranged this event with the bar, you’re good to go, but if you’re going rogue—you’ll want to make a few considerations.
Size—How many people do you have? How many people can fit in this bar?
If you haven’t talked to the bar directly, your pub crawl should probably take up fewer than 50% of the bar’s capacity. It’s possible that they don’t have enough bartenders or bandwidth to serve you in a timely fashion and nobody likes when everyone’s stuck on top of each other waiting for a drink. They just might not be prepared for you, or, especially if you’re in a pub where it’s typically quiet and has a lot of regulars, a bunch of fresh-faced kids excitedly asking for the attention of the bartender whose probably been there since the bar opened in 1891 might mess with their vibe.
There are two types of people out there: people who don’t want to cause a problem and people who ask for forgiveness instead of permission. There’s also a third type of person out there, but don’t hang out with them or you’ll end up in jail. You’re thinking of someone specific right now, aren’t you?
If you’re in the first category, take this question seriously.
Plan A Bar Crawl With The Right Crew?
Secondly, are there any lightweights in your crew?!
We don’t personally know people like this, but apparently not everyone has the bodily capacity to down six drinks and still be hanging in there. If there are more than three stops on your crawl, think about “that guy”—everyone knows that guy, who:
…gets tough after a few too many.
…pukes.
…cries.
…needs to eat or they don’t remember how they got home.
So if you have someone(s) who get worked up after a few drinks, here are some steps you can take:
Limit the number of stops. Fewer stops should equal fewer drinks, especially if you’re serious about the amount of time you spend at each location
If you’ve warned the bar about your arrival, you can request pitchers of water to be put out
Make sure there are great, quick food options along your route. A dollar slice shop or dumplings are a good choice.
This one is kind of a jerk move, but tell the people you know that are bad drinkers to meet you at a later location, then mention that you happened connect with some of the other people earlier
Honestly, anything that slows down booze consumption works—maybe pick places with games or an activity so that people have something else to do with their hands than shovel cocktails down their gullet.
Are the Bars You Chose Are All Over the Place?
Finally, you really need to consider the distance you’re traveling. When you’re in your 20s, this sucks for women in heels. When you’re in your 30s, this sucks for everyone with bad knees. Make sure when you plan a bar crawl for your friends, keep every bar within a contained area.
Can you think of any other things you need to consider to have a great pub crawl?
